How to Develop a Real Estate Platform like Wasalt?

The real estate industry has always been a cornerstone of economic development, but traditionally, it’s been dominated by offline practices, time-consuming procedures, and limited access to verified property data. Buyers and sellers had to rely heavily on agents, face-to-face meetings, physical site visits, and stacks of paperwork. However, the digital revolution has reimagined how people discover, evaluate, and invest in properties. If you’re ready to tap into this transformation, now is the time to develop a real estate platform like Wasalt a digital solution that streamlines property transactions, enhances transparency, and delivers a seamless experience to all stakeholders.

Enter Wasalt—a comprehensive real estate platform that has reshaped the property market in Saudi Arabia by offering users a seamless digital experience. From property search to real-time auctions and project bookings, Wasalt simplifies the journey of owning or renting property in the Kingdom.

This blog is designed for entrepreneurs, startups, and real estate companies looking to build a Wasalt-like digital real estate platform. We’ll walk you through the business logic, feature set, technology stack, development process, and monetization strategies that power successful platforms like Wasalt.

What is Wasalt? – Platform Overview

Wasalt is an advanced real estate marketplace developed by Wasalt Real Estate Services Company, headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The platform serves both individual property seekers and professional real estate developers by offering separate apps:

• Wasalt (Main App) – For users looking to buy, rent, or invest in real estate.
  
• Wasalt Business – A dedicated app for brokers, developers, and agents to manage listings and generate leads.
  

What sets Wasalt apart is its focus on verified and exclusive properties, real-time bidding via electronic auctions, and the ability to reserve land from investment masterplans—all through a mobile-first experience.

Some key stats include:

• 300,000+ app downloads
  
• 2 million+ monthly website visits
  
• 50,000+ active property listings
  
• Trusted by both individual sellers and corporate developers
  

Wasalt is more than a property listing portal—it’s an ecosystem connecting buyers, sellers, agents, and developers with data-driven and user-centric solutions.

Essential Features to Develop a Real Estate Platform like Wasalt

To replicate the success of Wasalt, your platform needs to offer core functionalities that prioritize convenience, trust, and interactivity. Here are Wasalt’s standout features in greater detail:

a. Smart Property Search & Filters

Wasalt allows users to perform granular searches across thousands of property listings:

• By property type: apartments, villas, lands, commercial spaces
  
• By transaction: buy or rent
  
• By region: Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Al-Khobar, and other cities
  

Users can refine results using filters like price range, built-up area, number of bedrooms, furnishing type, and proximity to facilities. The map-based search feature helps users visualize the exact location of a property and explore nearby schools, mosques, hospitals, and restaurants—enhancing decision-making.

b. Verified & Exclusive Listings

Wasalt maintains high listing quality standards. All properties are verified and documented, ensuring users browse legitimate offers only. Exclusive listings provide early access to high-potential investments and ensure a competitive edge for users.

Each listing includes:

• High-resolution images
  
• Pricing, availability status
  
• Detailed property descriptions
  
• Floor plans and legal information (e.g., deed or ownership certificate)
  

This focus on data accuracy and exclusivity boosts user trust—crucial for high-value decisions like property investments.

c. Project Booking

Through collaborations with top real estate developers, Wasalt features entire residential and commercial projects within the app. Users can:

• View comprehensive project overviews
  
• Select units (apartment, villa, duplex)
  
• Explore amenities, pricing plans, and unit layouts
  
• Book directly using their bank card
  

This feature cuts down on unnecessary site visits and empowers users to make decisions faster—especially valuable for off-plan properties.

d. Investment Land Plans

Another unique feature is the “Masterplan” view, which allows users to explore investment plots across emerging zones in Saudi Arabia. These masterplans offer:

• Aerial and layout views of land divisions
  
• Real-time availability status of plots
  
• Plot size, pricing, and road access details
  
• Direct online reservation system
  

This is ideal for long-term investors and developers looking for strategic land parcels to develop or hold.

e. Electronic Real Estate Auctions

Wasalt is a pioneer in digital real estate bidding within the region. Users can:

• Create an in-app e-wallet
  
• Fund it via local bank integrations
  
• Participate in live auctions to bid on high-value properties
  

Auctions offer transparency, competitive pricing, and attract serious investors. It also generates engagement and urgency on the platform.

f. Shabeek – Custom Search Concierge

The “Shabeek” feature acts like a property matchmaking tool. If users can’t find what they’re looking for, they can:

• Submit a detailed property request
  
• Include type, budget, preferred area, size, and specific features
  
• Receive responses from licensed brokers who match the request
  

This flips the traditional search experience and saves users time by having agents compete to meet their needs.

g. Real Estate Advertising & Listings Management

Wasalt offers direct property advertising to individual owners, allowing them to:

• Publish property listings
  
• Add them to auctions
  
• Track interest and inquiries
  

For brokers and developers, listings must be managed through the Wasalt Business app, which includes:

• Listing management dashboard
  
• Project promotion tools
  
• CRM features
  
• Reporting and analytics
  

Business Model & Monetization Strategies to Develop a Real Estate Platform like Wasalt

Wasalt employs a multi-channel monetization model that combines transactional revenue with subscription services:

a. Listing Fees & Premium Promotion

• Free basic listings for property owners
  
• Paid upgrades to feature listings on homepage, top search results, or in banners
  

b. Subscription Packages for Agents & Developers

Through the Wasalt Business app, real estate professionals can subscribe to monthly or annual packages that offer:

• Bulk listing uploads
  
• Priority exposure
  
• Access to buyer inquiries
  
• Marketing tools
  

c. Transaction-Based Commission

Revenue is also generated through:

• Booking commissions (for property reservations and project sales)
  
• Auction participation fees
  
• Land plot reservation charges
  

d. Wallet Top-Up & Service Fees

When users top up their e-wallet or book a property via card, a nominal transaction fee or convenience charge may apply.

e. Third-Party Advertising

Furniture suppliers, home loan providers, or moving services may advertise on Wasalt’s platform, creating an additional revenue stream.

Technology Stack to Build a Wasalt-like App

1. Frontend:

• Mobile App: React Native or Flutter for cross-platform compatibility
  
• Web Portal: React.js or Angular for high-speed, responsive interfaces
  

2. Backend:

• Frameworks: Node.js (for scalability), Laravel (for rapid API development), or Django (for security-heavy applications)
  
• Authentication: OAuth 2.0, JWT for secure logins
  
• Real-Time Features: Firebase, WebSockets for auctions and chat
  

3. Database:

• SQL (PostgreSQL): Structured data like listings, user profiles
  
• NoSQL (MongoDB): For unstructured data like property descriptions or photos
  
• Redis: For caching search results and speeding up performance
  

4. Cloud & Hosting:

• AWS / Google Cloud Platform / Azure: For scalability and data storage
  
• CDN: Cloudflare for fast image and asset delivery
  

5. APIs & Integrations:

• Google Maps API: For map-based property search
  
• Stripe / HyperPay / STC Pay: For secure payment processing
  
• Twilio: SMS alerts and phone verification
  
• Email: SendGrid or Mailgun for transactional emails
  

6. Admin & Broker Dashboards:

• Built with tools like Laravel Nova, React Admin, or Django Admin
  
• Includes analytics, reports, property moderation, and user support
  

Process to Develop a Real Estate Platform like Wasalt

Step 1: Discovery & Research

• Study the real estate trends in your target region
  
• Understand your competition, user personas, and legal compliance needs
  

Step 2: Define MVP Features

Your MVP should include:

• User registration & login
  
• Property listing and search
  
• Map integration
  
• In-app chat or inquiry system
  
• Basic admin panel
  

Add auctions, e-wallet, and project booking in Phase 2.

Step 3: UI/UX Design

• Design bilingual (RTL + LTR) interfaces
  
• Prioritize accessibility, search simplicity, and mobile responsiveness
  
• Use tools like Figma or Adobe XD for prototyping
  

Step 4: Development Phase

• Set up APIs and database schema
  
• Develop mobile apps and web portal in sprints
  
• Integrate payment and map APIs
  

Step 5: Testing

• Functional testing (filters, booking, forms)
  
• Performance testing (speed under load)
  
• Security audits (user data, transactions)
  

Step 6: Deployment & Launch

• Soft launch in one city or region
  
• Collect user feedback
  
• Scale gradually with content marketing, SEO, and partnerships
  

Key Challenges & Solutions

Challenge	Solution
Verifying listing authenticity	Partner with notaries or offer document verification via AI/OCR
Real-time auction bidding	Use WebSocket servers or Firebase for low-latency sync
Location precision on maps	Let owners manually pin location on map + reverse geocoding
Local regulation compliance	Work with legal consultants during MVP planning
Platform scalability	Use Kubernetes and CI/CD pipelines to ensure zero downtime scaling

Estimated Cost to Develop Real Estate Platform like Wasalt

Development Scope	Estimated Cost
MVP App + Admin Panel	$30,000 – $40,000
Full Platform with Advanced Features	$60,000 – $100,000
Auctions, Wallet, CRM, Land Booking	$15,000 – $30,000
Annual Maintenance & Hosting	$10,000 – $20,000

These figures may vary based on region, technology choice, and developer rates.

Ideal Team Structure

To develop a Wasalt-level app, you’ll need a cross-functional team:

• Project Manager: Oversees execution, timelines, and stakeholders
  
• Business Analyst: Helps shape MVP scope and requirements
  
• UI/UX Designer: Builds engaging, mobile-friendly interfaces
  
• Frontend Developers: Handle mobile and web interfaces
  
• Backend Developers: Develop APIs, integrate payments, manage data
  
• QA Testers: Manual and automated testing across platforms
  
• DevOps Engineer: Infrastructure, deployment, monitoring
  

Optional:

• Real Estate Consultant: Offers market insights
  
• Marketing Specialist: Launches the app and acquires users
  

Future Scope & Innovations

Wasalt is just the beginning. Your platform can integrate future-forward tech such as:

• AI Matching Algorithms: Personalized property recommendations based on behavior
  
• Virtual Tours (VR/AR): Let users walk through properties remotely
  
• Blockchain Contracts: Smart contracts for secure property ownership transfers
  
• Voice-Activated Search: For quick hands-free browsing
  
• Home Financing Tools: EMI calculators, loan comparison, instant approval
  

Conclusion

Creating a real estate platform like Wasalt requires deep understanding of the market, a solid tech foundation, and a relentless focus on user experience. Whether you’re targeting the Middle East or another region, the Wasalt model offers a compelling blueprint for modernizing real estate transactions.

By starting lean, focusing on trust-driven features, and scaling with real-time interactions like auctions or project booking, your platform can reshape how people buy and rent homes in the digital age.

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