Inspiration
We have always been fascinated by the world of real estate and investing, but like many others, lacked the resources and capital to pursue it. Real estate, in particular, has always intrigued us as it is a stable asset that typically appreciates over time. However, the high cost of entry has always been a challenge.

Fortunately, we realized that by pooling our resources, a group of like-minded individuals could combine our collective capital to invest in real estate. This approach not only allows us to take advantage of real estate's stability and appreciation potential but also helps us to diversify our investment portfolios.

As we began exploring this avenue further, we found that there were many opportunities available to us, including rental properties, commercial buildings, and even land development projects. Each opportunity had its own set of risks and rewards, but the potential benefits were clear.
In conclusion, while real estate may seem out of reach for many individuals, it is possible to invest in this asset class by pooling our resources. By doing so, we can take advantage of the stability and appreciation potential of real estate, while also diversifying our portfolios and potentially generating significant returns over time.
What it does
We are proud to announce that we have built a platform that enables individuals to invest in real estate together. Our platform provides users with the opportunity to pool their resources and invest in a range of properties that suit their investment preferences.

Our platform is unique in that it suggests groups of people properties that they can invest in based on the total amount of capital shared between the group and the amount of risk they are willing to take. This ensures that each group invests in properties that align with their investment objectives and risk profile.
To further assist groups in their investment decisions, our platform provides crucial data such as the return on investment for the property and its long-term value. This data allows groups to make informed decisions and maximize their investment potential.
All profits generated from these investments are split between the group based on the amount they initially invested. This ensures that each individual is rewarded fairly for their contribution and encourages collaboration and teamwork.
Moreover, our platform also allows users to be part of multiple investing groups at the same time, providing flexibility and further diversification of their investment portfolio.
In summary, our platform has made real estate investing more accessible and collaborative. By bringing people together and providing valuable data and tools, we aim to help our users achieve their investment objectives and generate significant returns over time.
How we built it
Our platform is built using a combination of powerful technologies that allow us to provide users with unparalleled functionality and features.

On the front end, we used Flutter, a popular open-source mobile application development framework, to build a highly interactive and intuitive user interface. Flutter allowed us to incorporate advanced features that would not have been possible using other frameworks.

On the backend, we used Python, a high-level programming language, to build our predicting and suggesting algorithm that is used to suggest properties to groups. Python allowed us to build a highly efficient and scalable algorithm that can analyze large datasets and provide accurate recommendations to users.
To enable user authentication and alert users of potential investment opportunities, we used the Twilio API. This allowed us to send SMS notifications to users and ensure that they never miss an investment opportunity.
For data storage and access, we used CockroachDB, a cloud-native, distributed SQL database. CockroachDB provided us with a highly scalable and reliable database solution that can handle large amounts of data.

Finally, we connected the front and back ends using Flask, a popular Python web framework, and Dart, a client-optimized programming language used to build applications for iOS, Android, and the web. This allowed us to build a seamless and highly responsive platform that users can access from any device.
Challenges we ran into
Our journey in building the real estate investment platform was not without its challenges. We faced several obstacles throughout the development process, but we overcame them through perseverance and collaboration.

One of the biggest challenges we faced was connecting the front end and back end of our platform. Flutter is a package used for designing the user interface, while Python allows users to perform computational algorithms. Connecting the two was a daunting task that required a lot of time and effort.
Another significant challenge we faced was retrieving data from publicly available sources. Building an algorithm for data-scraping that can bypass a bot test was a new experience for us, and it took time to develop a robust solution.

We also faced a challenge in developing our suggested algorithm and building a formula to compute the price of a real estate property in 10 years. As beginners in the field, fully understanding the complex factors that go into these algorithms was a challenge.
Despite these challenges, we persisted and worked together to overcome them. By leveraging our technical skills and market knowledge, we were able to create a functional platform that meets the needs of our users.

Our experience in building the platform taught us that every project comes with its own set of challenges, and it's essential to remain adaptable and creative in finding solutions. By working collaboratively and leveraging each other's strengths, we were able to overcome these challenges and deliver a platform that we are proud of.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We are thrilled to share the accomplishments that we are proud of while building our real estate investment platform.
One of our key achievements is successfully connecting the front end and back end of our platform. This allowed us to exchange data between the two and perform complex computations that form the basis of our platform. This connection also enabled us to retrieve data from our databases and display it on the app, providing users with up-to-date and accurate information.

Another achievement that we are proud of is developing an algorithm that predicts the price of a property. This algorithm utilizes a range of data points and metrics to provide users with accurate predictions of the value of a property. This feature is crucial in helping users make informed investment decisions.
Additionally, we developed an algorithm that suggests properties to groups based on their investment preferences and risk profile. This algorithm analyzes large datasets and provides users with a range of investment options that align with their investment objectives.

These accomplishments are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team. By building a platform that utilizes cutting-edge technologies and advanced algorithms, we aim to provide users with a seamless and intuitive real estate investment experience that helps them achieve their investment goals.
What we learned
Our journey in building the real estate investment platform has been a tremendous learning experience for us. While we gained significant technical skills like connecting the front end and back end, we also learned a lot about the real estate market and what goes into understanding a good investment.
Through research and analysis, we now have a clearer understanding of how the real estate market works and what factors make a good investment. We learned that it's not just about the property itself, but also its location, market trends, and other economic factors that can impact its value over time.
Though we do not claim to be experts in the field, we are confident that we have built a platform that helps users get started in real estate investing. We have designed our platform to provide users with relevant data and insights, enabling them to make informed investment decisions.
Overall, our experience in building the platform has taught us that creating a successful product requires a balance of technical skills, market knowledge, and a deep understanding of users' needs. We will continue to learn, grow, and improve our platform to ensure that it meets the needs of our users and provides them with a seamless real estate investment experience.

What's Next for Shared Spaces
As we continue to develop Shared Spaces, our main focus is on improving our algorithms to ensure that they provide accurate and reliable results and suggestions. While our current algorithms work well, we understand that there is always room for improvement, and we plan to invest more time and effort into researching and refining them.
Another key priority for us is expanding our platform's reach beyond Washington, DC, to cover the entire United States and eventually the world. By widening our scope, we can provide more opportunities for real estate investment to a broader user base and help empower more people to make informed investment decisions.
Ultimately, our goal is to provide a user-friendly platform that supports users in making smart investment decisions while also offering expert guidance and advice. We believe that by continuing to invest in our platform and improving our algorithms, we can continue to meet the evolving needs of our users and provide them with a valuable tool for real estate investment.



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