Building Scalable Real Estate Apps for the Nigerian Market

The Nigerian real estate sector (Proptech) is booming, but building the software to support it comes with immense challenges. From verifying properties to handling massive image uploads securely, the architecture must be flawless.

Handling High-Resolution Media Securely

We rely on scalable cloud buckets with CDN endpoints to ensure virtual tours and property images load instantly. Using modern image optimization libraries like next/image ensures users on varying data connections can still browse properties seamlessly. Each property listing in Nigeria typically requires 15-30 high-resolution images, plus floor plans and sometimes 360-degree virtual tours.

The Verification Challenge

Property fraud remains one of the biggest challenges in Nigerian real estate. A robust PropTech application must implement multi-layer verification: document uploads for C of O (Certificate of Occupancy), integration with state land registries where APIs are available, and mandatory agent verification through the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON). Without these safeguards, your platform will lose user trust quickly.

Search and Discovery Architecture

Nigerian property searches are highly location-specific. Users search by estate names, local government areas, and even landmark proximity. Implementing a powerful search engine with geospatial indexing — using tools like PostgreSQL PostGIS or Elasticsearch — is essential. The search must handle Nigerian address formats, which are far less standardized than Western addresses, and support both formal addresses and colloquial location descriptions.

Payment and Escrow Integration

For platforms facilitating property transactions, integrating a secure escrow system is critical. We build custom escrow flows using Paystack or Flutterwave's subaccount infrastructure, where funds are held securely until both parties confirm the transaction. This protects both buyers and sellers in a market where trust remains the primary barrier to online property transactions.