I’m delighted to discover that offering an API by itself (that too specific to one domain) is a valuable business model! Congrats on the launch folks!
What? There are tons of API businesses. Many of them are massive companies.
Launch HN: Propify (YC W23) – Property Management System API Aggregator
51–58 of 58 posts
Re: Launch HN: Propify (YC W23) – Property Management System API Aggregator
#52Do you integrate with Stessa or Roofstock?
Right now we are focused on multifamily PMS's, but we will be adding other integrations like Roofstock down the road.
Re: Launch HN: Propify (YC W23) – Property Management System API Aggregator
#53Should probably clarify in the title that this is for property management, not real estate. MLS data is notoriously impossible to get without huge contracts, which is what made want to check this out.
I misread it the same way--I've been praying for a good API to do some housing affordability data projects.
What sort of API? I’m working on another real estate project and were focusing on generic listings APIs. Would love to know your use case.
Re: Launch HN: Propify (YC W23) – Property Management System API Aggregator
#54Really interesting! Just for curiosity, is your BE implemented with Python?
Re: Launch HN: Propify (YC W23) – Property Management System API Aggregator
#55Really interesting! Just for curiosity, is your BE implemented with Python?
No python (yet)
Re: Launch HN: Propify (YC W23) – Property Management System API Aggregator
#56Are y'all based out of Lafayette, Colorado by any chance?
Haha strange question, but no. We are in SF for the YC batch, and then back to Boston where we all normally live.
I talked to someone at a co-working space in Lafayette who was a member of a company there and they were working on a similar project. I can't for the life of me remember anything else about it though.
Best wishes to you all with the startup.
Re: Launch HN: Propify (YC W23) – Property Management System API Aggregator
#57Earlier quoted context omitted.
I misread it the same way--I've been praying for a good API to do some housing affordability data projects.
What sort of API? I’m working on another real estate project and were focusing on generic listings APIs. Would love to know your use case.
My research is in urban planning so I mostly use city/state/federal data and occasionally data from court cases.
Most of that data is sparsely updated and I'm not clued in on many real estate APIs to track up-to-date trends in housing and prices so I would love to know more about what your work looks like!
Re: Launch HN: Propify (YC W23) – Property Management System API Aggregator
#58Earlier quoted context omitted.
>what's the deal with MLS data? That sounds pretty interesting, some kind of protective moat they have in place? What's the backstory there? It's just extremely valuable, so they won't give it out willy nilly. There's a network effect at work, where it's almost impossible to sell your home without listing with them, so everyone does. And mortgages are just about the most lucrative consumer financial transaction there…
interesting, blocking out the buyers at least """ Can buyers access the multiple listing service without a realtor? The short answer is no, they can’t — at least not directly. In order to access the MLS, you need a real estate license, which means it’s not possible for buyers to have direct access to this data on their own. However, they can reap the benefits the MLS has to offer if they start the house buying proces…
Why do you only focus on residential PMS's? From my perspective, I think commercial property management would have a larger opportunity to leverage APIs for market analytics, pro formas analysis using KPIs talked about in earlier parts of this thread, and DD (historically one of the biggest pain points for RE).
Credentials: Sr Product Manager at Amazon in the RE Team (Amazon Fulfillment), former BTS commercial property developer, and current luxury residential Real Estate agent with MLS access.