One of the most powerful things a developer can do is build something that solves a real-world problem — especially one close to home.
I recently launched a side project called bazarrealestate.com. It’s a real estate platform designed to help Syrians — especially those returning after years of war — find homes quickly, safely, and more easily. In just our first month, it’s already proving that even small, local software can make a difference… and generate income too.
This isn’t a startup pitch. It’s a real story about how a Laravel-powered project is helping me earn recurring income — and how you can do something similar.
What the Website Actually Does
At its core, bazarrealestate.com is a simple, direct real estate listing platform:
- Homeowners can list their homes for sale or rent
- Users browse available homes, filter by need, and place a "see order" to schedule a house viewing
- We help both parties connect safely, and when a deal is made, we take a commission
The site helps users find suitable homes faster and at fair prices, and it helps sellers promote their listings without hassle.
Why I Built It — and Why It Matters
I live in Syria — a country that’s still healing and rebuilding. After years of war, many families are returning from neighboring countries, and they’re trying to find places to live.
But the housing market here isn’t easy to navigate:
- Listings are spread across random Facebook groups or word of mouth
- Calls waste time, agents give conflicting info, and trust is often low
- Renters and buyers waste days chasing bad leads
I realized there was an opportunity to fix this with software: one platform where people can browse dozens of real, verified listings in one place — in minutes.
That became the mission behind bazarrealestate.com.
How It Makes Money
We wanted to build something ethical and accessible, especially for people who are just returning to rebuild their lives.
So instead of charging upfront, here’s how our business model works:
- For home sales: The owner pays us a 1.5% commission when the deal is done. We list the property for free.
- For rentals: The renter pays the commission after the lease is signed.
This keeps the barrier low, especially for property owners. In just our first month, we worked directly with owners to fill the site with listings. The feedback was strong, and we’re now preparing to expand.
What We’re Doing Next
Until now, we’ve worked directly with homeowners. But we’re about to roll out our next phase:
- Partnering with real estate agents in Damascus and nearby cities
- Scaling our listing count and improving reach through partnerships
- Optimizing the site and dashboard for multi-user property management
With this new model, we project a steady flow of 2 to 4 successful deals per month. At an average commission, that could mean \$1,000/month or more in side income — and real value delivered to the community.
Launch Strategy: Simple but Focused
We didn’t overthink our launch. Here’s what we did:
- Shared the site on Facebook groups and WhatsApp channels
- Paid for ads on large local Facebook pages to get initial traffic
- Contacted homeowners we already knew and offered to post their properties for free
It was simple outreach, not a viral campaign. But in a local, underserved market, trust and visibility matter more than perfect UI.
The Tech Stack
Since I come from a Laravel background, I built the platform using tools I’m comfortable with:
- Laravel for the backend logic and dashboard
- Blade with a clean CSS setup for fast templating
- Custom image upload system for property photos
- Manual content moderation to keep listings high-quality
- Basic analytics to track clicks and see orders
It's not fancy, but it works — and it's growing.
Why Small Income Projects Matter
As I wrote in my previous post:
Build your own income streams , don’t rely 100% on a job.
With the way markets and jobs work here, having even \$100–200 in extra income per month can keep you afloat during tough times. And when your side project can eventually pay your internet bill, or even more — it gives you freedom, flexibility, and confidence.
Lessons You Can Apply
Here’s what I learned from building and launching bazarrealestate.com:
- Solve a problem you understand deeply — not a trendy one
- You don’t need to build something global — local wins are powerful
- Talk to users, not just developers — real estate is full of non-tech people, and that's okay
- Keep the business model simple — don’t complicate pricing
- Launch before it’s perfect — iterate after you get real feedback
Final Thoughts
This project didn’t start with a grand plan. It started with a problem I saw around me and a skill I already had: coding. One month later, it’s helping people, earning money, and giving me a new sense of independence.
If you’re a developer, don’t wait for the perfect idea. Look around you. Find something annoying, slow, or confusing — and fix it. You might just build something useful, profitable, and meaningful.
And in the process, you’ll learn more than any tutorial could teach you.
If you have questions about the build, the tech, or launching something similar in your own country, drop them in the comments. I’ll be glad to share what worked (and what didn’t).
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