Intermediate terms

Essential PropTech Terms

This curated collection includes key terms that might be helpful when exploring Real Estate Technology (PropTech). It covers the modern vocabulary for software, platforms, and innovations changing the real estate industry. These terms were selected based on common questions and areas where investors often need clarity.

Learning Path

Real Estate Tokenization

Real Estate Tokenization is the process of converting real estate assets into digital tokens on a blockchain, representing fractional ownership or economic rights, and enabling enhanced liquidity and accessibility for investors.

Advanced5 min

Smart Building

A Smart Building is a property that uses integrated technology, such as IoT devices and Building Management Systems (BMS), to automate and optimize operations, improve efficiency, and enhance the experience for occupants and owners.

Intermediate5 min

Due Diligence Platform

A Due Diligence Platform is a specialized software solution that streamlines the evaluation of real estate investment opportunities by aggregating data, automating financial analysis, and assessing risks.

Intermediate5 min

Digital Twin

A Digital Twin is a virtual, real-time replica of a physical real estate asset, continuously updated with data from sensors and other sources to enable advanced monitoring, analysis, and predictive modeling for optimized management and investment decisions.

Advanced5-6 min

Real Estate CRM

A Real Estate CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system is a software tool designed specifically for real estate professionals to manage and analyze client interactions and data throughout the customer lifecycle, improving client relationships and driving sales growth.

Beginner5-6 min

Virtual Tour

A virtual tour is a digital walkthrough of a property, using interactive media like panoramic photos, videos, or 3D models, allowing remote viewing and exploration by potential buyers or renters.

Beginner2-3 min

iBuyer

An iBuyer is a company that uses technology to make instant, all-cash offers on homes, aiming to streamline the selling process for convenience and speed, then reselling for a profit.

Intermediate4-5 min

Real Estate Investment Analysis Software

Real Estate Investment Analysis Software is a digital tool that helps investors evaluate potential property acquisitions by automating financial calculations, forecasting performance, and providing data-driven insights into profitability and risk.

Intermediate5-6 min

Internet of Things (IoT)

The Internet of Things (IoT) in real estate involves embedding smart sensors and devices within properties to collect and exchange data, enabling remote control, automation, and data-driven insights for optimized property management and enhanced investment returns.

Intermediate5 min

Machine Learning

Machine Learning (ML) is a branch of Artificial Intelligence that allows computer systems to learn from data, identify patterns, and make predictions or decisions without explicit programming, revolutionizing data analysis in real estate investing.

Intermediate5 min

Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that overlays digital information onto the real-world environment, enhancing a user's perception of physical surroundings through devices like smartphones or smart glasses. In real estate, it's used for virtual staging, interactive property tours, and visualizing future developments.

Intermediate2 min

Drones in Real Estate

Drones in real estate are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used to capture aerial photos, videos, and data for property marketing, inspections, and land surveys, offering unique perspectives and detailed insights.

Beginner2-3 min

Big Data in Real Estate

Big Data in Real Estate refers to the collection and analysis of massive, diverse datasets—including market trends, demographics, and property records—to uncover patterns and insights that inform strategic investment decisions and optimize property management.

Intermediate5-6 min

Automated Valuation Model

An Automated Valuation Model (AVM) is a computer-generated real estate valuation based on mathematical modeling combined with a database of existing property and market information. It provides an estimated property value quickly and cost-effectively, often used for preliminary analysis.

Intermediate5 min

Equity Crowdfunding

Equity crowdfunding allows multiple investors to collectively fund real estate projects through online platforms, receiving an equity stake and sharing in potential profits and appreciation. It democratizes access to real estate investments by lowering entry barriers.

Intermediate13-16 min

Smart Contract

A smart contract is a self-executing digital agreement with terms directly coded onto a blockchain, enabling automated, immutable, and transparent transactions without intermediaries.

Advanced5 min

PropTech

PropTech, or Property Technology, refers to the application of technology and digital innovation to the real estate industry, streamlining processes like buying, selling, managing, and analyzing properties for greater efficiency and transparency.

Beginner5 min

Predictive Analytics

Predictive analytics in real estate utilizes historical data, statistical models, and machine learning to forecast future market trends, property values, and investment outcomes, enabling proactive decision-making for investors.

Intermediate5-6 min

Property Management Software

Property Management Software (PMS) is a digital platform designed to streamline and automate the daily operations of managing rental properties, from tenant screening and rent collection to maintenance and financial reporting.

Intermediate13 min

Blockchain in Real Estate

Blockchain in real estate applies distributed ledger technology to enhance transparency, efficiency, and security in property transactions, ownership, and management through innovations like tokenization and smart contracts, fundamentally transforming the industry.

Advanced8-9 min

Geographic Information System

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a framework for gathering, managing, and analyzing data, connecting data to a map to integrate location information with descriptive data. In real estate, it enables investors to visualize, analyze, and interpret market trends, property values, and demographic patterns for informed decision-making.

Intermediate5 min