PropertyPulse
Source code and live site coming soon
A full-stack real estate platform built while learning React. Users can list properties for rent, browse available listings, and send inquiries to property owners. Features include user authentication, image uploads with Cloudinary, and a MongoDB database for data persistence.
Role
Solo Developer
Responsibilities
Designed and developed the entire application from scratch, including user authentication, property CRUD operations, image handling, and database design. Built both the frontend UI and backend API.
Tech Stack
- React.jsFrontend Framework
- Node.jsBackend Runtime
- MongoDBDatabase
- CloudinaryImage Storage
- Next AuthAuthentication
Motivation
I built PropertyPulse as a hands-on project to solidify my understanding of React and full-stack development. Real estate platforms involve complex data relationships, user authentication, and media handling — making it an ideal challenge for learning. The goal was to build something functional and deployable while practicing modern development patterns.
Key Features
User Management
- Google OAuth and credential-based authentication
- User profiles with property management dashboard
- Saved/bookmarked properties feature
Property Listings
- Create, edit, and delete property listings
- Multi-image upload with Cloudinary integration
- Detailed property information (amenities, location, pricing)
- Search and filter by location, type, and price
Communication
- In-app messaging system for property inquiries
- Notification system for new messages
- Contact property owners directly
What I Learned
This project taught me the fundamentals of building production-ready React applications. I learned how to structure a full-stack app, handle authentication flows, manage file uploads, and work with NoSQL databases. More importantly, I gained experience debugging real issues and making architectural decisions that affect user experience. The project reinforced the importance of planning data models early and writing maintainable code from the start.
Reflection
Looking back, PropertyPulse was a formative project that bridged the gap between tutorials and real development. I made plenty of beginner mistakes — over-complicated state management, inconsistent API patterns, and spending too much time on features nobody would use. But those mistakes were valuable. They taught me to focus on core functionality first and iterate based on actual needs.
If I were to rebuild this today, I'd use TypeScript from the start, implement better error handling, and add comprehensive testing. I'd also spend more time on the UX details that make a platform feel polished. But as a learning project, it achieved its goal: giving me the confidence and skills to tackle more complex applications.