From jQuery to Next.js: Scaling a Real Estate Platform with a Small Team
A couple of years ago, I joined a real estate startup in Argentina with one major goal: modernize its platform. The challenge? Migrate an aging jQuery app to a modern React-based stack while keeping up with business needs.
As the only full-stack developer, I took ownership of both frontend and backend decisions. Over time, we built a scalable platform using:
- Next.js for server-side rendering and SEO
- React + ChakraUI for an intuitive frontend
- TypeScript for type safety
- Node.js, MySQL, and Prisma for the backend
- Vercel for deployment
This is the story of that migration, the tech decisions we made, and how we used feedback loops to iterate fast and improve the product.
Why Move from jQuery to React?
The original app relied heavily on jQuery for DOM manipulation, making it difficult to scale or introduce new features efficiently. Some of the pain points included:
- Performance issues – Heavy reliance on direct DOM updates slowed down UI interactions.
- Code complexity – Spaghetti code with inline event handlers everywhere.
- Lack of scalability – No clear way to introduce components or state management.
We decided on React + Next.js for better maintainability, SEO benefits, and performance improvements.
Choosing the Tech Stack: Speed vs. Maintainability
With a small team, we had to prioritize development speed without sacrificing long-term maintainability.
| Tech | Why We Chose It |
|---|---|
| Next.js | Server-side rendering (SSR) for better SEO and initial load speed |
| React | Component-based architecture for reusability |
| TypeScript | Prevents runtime errors and improves code maintainability |
| ChakraUI | Speeds up UI development with accessible components |
| Prisma | Simplifies database queries and schema management |
| Vercel | One-click deployments with automatic scaling |
With this stack, we reduced page load times by 50% and improved developer experience with strongly typed data models.
Using Feedback Loops to Iterate Fast
Since we had a small team, we relied on feedback loops to guide development. Here’s how:
1️⃣ Customer Feedback for Prioritization
- We tracked which real estate listings got the most views.
- Clients wanted a faster search experience, so we optimized SQL queries and caching.
2️⃣ Developer Feedback for Maintainability
- With every sprint, we documented pain points and refactored where needed.
- Introducing TypeScript and Prisma made debugging much easier.
3️⃣ Business Feedback for Monetization
- The team initially wanted a paywall, but data showed that free access led to more engagement.
- Instead, we introduced a lead generation model, where users had to sign up to contact sellers.
These iterations were only possible because we shipped quickly, measured results, and adapted fast.
Lessons Learned from the Migration
🚀 Done is better than perfect.
We prioritized small, functional releases over large, delayed launches. Every feature was built in iterative cycles.
💡 Technical debt is inevitable—manage it, don’t fear it.
We embraced pragmatic refactoring, balancing short-term business needs with long-term code quality.
📈 Metrics matter more than opinions.
Every change was guided by real user behavior, not just internal assumptions.
Final Thoughts
Over the past couple of years, migrating a real estate platform from jQuery to Next.js was both a challenge and an opportunity. By choosing the right stack and listening to feedback, we built something that was not only faster but also more maintainable.
This experience taught me that technology should serve the business—not the other way around.
If you’re a developer facing a similar migration, my advice is: move fast, ship often, and always iterate based on real feedback.
🚀 Have you worked on a similar migration? Let’s chat—drop your thoughts in the comments!