Privve

mobile application project
The real estate process is fragmented, outdated, and expensive. Traditional, agent-dependent models no longer meet the needs of today’s tech-savvy consumers, who seek greater control, efficiency, and reduced transaction costs.

my role

Competitive researcher, lead product designer (UX/UI), marketing manager

project outline

This project began with research into the current real estate workflow, focusing on what tasks agents perform and which applications they use. Do these tools work together—and if so, how? The next step was to identify the key features and functionality the app would need to support a complete real estate transaction.

Once the research was complete, I developed user stories to define the different types of users and understand their needs and goals. From there, I created low- and high-fidelity prototypes, which were iterated on and refined based on user needs. The prototypes were also tested with users and presented to investors and other stakeholders for feedback.

the problem

There is currently no platform available that allows real estate buyers and sellers to complete the contract process and buy or sell a home without the need for a real estate agent.

the goal

Design a responsive web application for buyers and sellers that consolidates all the tools and processes currently used by real estate agents.

pain points

1

fragmented

Real estate agents use a range of disjoined platforms, processes, and systems.

2

outdated

Those process are outdated, making it hard to use in the current ecosystem.

3

costly

High transaction costs can deter buyers/ sellers from compelting a transaction.

our target users

name: Mark
age: 36
education: 4-year university
hometown: Boise, ID
family: Married
occupation: Accountant

Mark is a young professional living in Boise, ID with his spouse. They’ve been renting for the past five years while saving for a down payment and are now searching for their first home. As first-time buyers, they’re unsure where to start. They browse listings on Zillow but would prefer to tour homes without a real estate agent, as coordinating schedules has been difficult.

problem statement

Mark is an accountant who needs the ability to scheudle home tours without an agent becasue he and his spouse have busy schedules.

name: Jen
age: 68
education: Trade school
hometown: Boise, ID
family: Widowed
occupation: Retired teacher

Jen is a recently retired widow living in Spokane, WA. She’s looking to sell her home and move to a warmer climate. Her late husband previously handled all matters related to the house, so she’s unsure where to begin. Jen has noticed 'For Sale by Owner' signs in her neighborhood and is considering that route to save on real estate agent fees. However, she’s uncertain how to market the home on her own. She’s currently exploring her options.

problem statement

Jen is a retired teacher who needs help listing her house becasue she has never dealt with the house before and doesn't know where to start and who to talk with.

starting the journey

market opportuinty

Identifying the market potential for real estate tech:

  • Real estate tech market and projected growth
  • Trends in digital adoption and consumer expectations for transparency and efficiency
  • Key audience segments:First-time homebuyers, tech-savvy buyers, cost-conscious buyers, remote workers, agents, and investors
  • 2024 outcome of NAR class action lawsuit

design research

The low-fidelity prototype connects the primary user flow of logging into the app, creating a profile, and going through the onboarding process.

iterate, iterate, iterate

usability study findings

Throughout this project, I conducted two usability studies to identify key user pain points and accessibility issues. After each round of testing, I made updates and improvements to the high-fidelity prototype. The screenshots below illustrate the iterations made during each phase.

Users (buyers) want the ability to look at homes without an agent.

Users (sellers) want to complete contracts without the aid of an agent.

User (agents) want organized communication with their clients.

high-fidelity prototype

The high-fidelity prototype connects the agent to the buyer/seller through in-app messaging and real-time updates across all interfaces. This prototype is an extensive flow that highlights the main functionality of the app.

takeaways

This was my first project using Figma and my first experience with UX/UI design. Over the course of this project, I learned a great deal about the tool—and even more about myself as a designer. It confirmed that this was the career path I wanted to pursue.

I’m grateful for this project because it introduced me to the full lifecycle of product development and exploration. I learned that design is an ongoing process, research is essential, and innovation has no limits..