Best Drones for Real Estate

Are you looking to make real estate properties stand out? Consider drone photography.

Drones take real estate photography to new heights by capturing alluring aerial photographs of residential and commercial properties alike. Studies have shown that properties with aerial photos sell 68 percent faster than those with standard images. 

However, not all real estate drones are equal.

There are a lot of options, and we did not have the opportunity to review them all. But we did choose five to showcase. 

If you are looking to take captivating shots that will entice buyers to view various real estate properties or bring more real estate agents to your drone business, here are five of the best drones for real estate photography.

Notable for: High-quality images 

If you want the best drone for real estate photography when it comes to high-quality images, look no further. The DJI Air 3 is ideal for high-quality images in real estate photography because of its dual-camera system that offers versatile focal lengths, enabling you to capture wide-angle and detailed shots effortlessly. Its 48MP camera produces stunningly detailed images, perfect for showcasing property features. The Air 3's omnidirectional obstacle sensing ensures safe navigation around buildings and structures, providing peace of mind during flights. With 4K/60fps HDR video capabilities, it delivers vibrant and lifelike visuals. Additionally, its long battery life allows for extended shooting sessions, making it perfect for capturing extensive real estate properties.

Skill level: Beginner

Flight time: 46 minutes

Camera quality: Dual camera 48MP

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Notable for: Entry-level drone at a budget price

If you want a drone for real estate photography that won't break the bank, consider the DJI Mini 3. The DJI Mini 3 is an excellent entry-level, budget-friendly drone for real estate photography due to its user-friendly features and high-quality imaging capabilities. Coming in at under 249 grams, this drone is powerful but easy for beginners to control. It captures stunning 4K UHD videos and detailed images with Dual Native ISO Fusion, which is ideal for showcasing properties. The True Vertical Shooting mode is perfect for social media posts, and its extended battery life ensures longer flight sessions. Additionally, its wind resistance and three-axis gimbal provide stable, smooth footage even in challenging conditions.

Skill level: Beginner 

Flight time: 38 minutes (more with extended battery plus)

Camera quality: 1/1.3-inch CMOS, Effective Pixels：48MP

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Notable for: First-person view shots and indoor photography

The DJI Avata 2 is an excellent choice for FPV and indoor real estate photography because it provides an immersive flying experience with intuitive motion control, making it easy for beginners to master. The drone’s ability to perform acrobatic maneuvers, like flips and rolls, allows for dynamic shots in tight spaces. Its super-wide 155-degree FOV and 4K/60fps video capability ensure stunning, detailed footage. The built-in propeller guard enhances safety, allowing more freedom when flying indoors. Additionally, its lightweight design and easy content creation tools make it perfect for capturing high-quality POV footage effortlessly.

Skill level: Intermediate 

Flight time: 23 minutes

Camera quality: 1/1.3-inch 12MP sensor

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Notable for: Longest flight time with high-quality footage

The Autel Robotics EVO II Pro V3 is ideal for real estate photography due to its exceptional image quality and long flight time. It features a 1-inch CMOS image sensor that supports 6K video, offering high dynamic range and excellent noise suppression. The drone’s 40-minute flight time ensures comprehensive coverage of large properties. With 360-degree obstacle avoidance, it navigates complex terrains safely. Additionally, the advanced Moonlight Algorithm 2.0 and 12-bit DNG photos provide stunning night photography and greater flexibility in post-production, making it perfect for capturing high-quality real estate footage.

Skill level: Intermediate

Flight time: 40 minutes

Camera quality: 1-inch CMOS sensor 20MP

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Notable for: High-quality video footage with the largest repertoire of flight functions

The DJI Mavic 3 Pro is an excellent choice for high-quality video footage in real estate photography due to its advanced Hasselblad main camera, featuring a 4/3 CMOS sensor and 20MP resolution, which supports RAW photos and offers a dynamic range of up to 12.8 stops. Its omnidirectional obstacle sensing and APAS 5.0 ensure safe flying, allowing you to focus on capturing stunning footage. With a 43-minute max flight time, you can cover extensive properties without frequent battery changes. The DJI O3+ transmission provides a stable signal up to 15 kilometers, ensuring coherent camera views. Additionally, the new Vision Assist feature and upgraded firmware offer enhanced aerial safety and expanded post-processing options.

Skill level: Intermediate

Flight time: 43 minutes 

Camera quality: 4/3 CMOS sensor 20MP

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Drones are used in real estate to capture images and videos of the property and landscape.

For example, you can create a shot from the waterside toward a house without getting on a boat. 

You can also take footage from an upward angle, showing more of the property than if you were to do this at ground level. You can even record 360-degree video footage of the property. 

Drone photography is popular in both residential and commercial real estate.

Drones allow real estate agents to show the lay of the land and the attractions around the property.

They are also used to take pictures to create overhead site maps of areas. Drone videography can even record a video tour of the property and its surroundings.

According to FAA regulations, you must register any drone used for commercial purposes, and the user must acquire a drone pilot certificate.

After that, you can use a drone to create footage as long as you abide by regulations and stay out of zones with flight restrictions.

The DJI line of drones has a built-in geofencing system that automatically restricts the drone in such areas. But ultimately it is still the pilot's responsibility to fly in a safe and legal manner. 

Some drones come with varying degrees of obstacle avoidance sensors. This means the drone will automatically move out of the way or stop moving toward an object. 

Unfortunately, the fewer of these functions it has, the easier it is to crash your drone, resulting in damage. Your camera’s image stabilization also matters as this might increase the skill level required to film smooth footage.

Flight time is the number of minutes you can have your drone in the air on a single battery. Therefore, it is essential to make sure your batteries are charged before using your drone. 

While it would be inconvenient if it stopped halfway through your session, most drones will fly back to the user when the battery reaches critical levels. You can always buy extra batteries if you require longer sessions.

Having a good camera increases the quality of your images.

Generally, the sensor size of the camera and the number of megapixels the camera can shoot will determine the quality. 

Having stabilization technology will also create much sharper images when either the object or camera is moving.

The operating range of a drone affects how far it can fly away from the user before input from the controller will no longer reach the drone. Therefore, if you fly your drone too far away or too high in the sky, you will not capture any footage or be able to control the drone. 

In the event that this happens, don’t worry. Most drones have a return home protocol, and they will fly back to you on autopilot.

However, no backup system is better than a pilot flying safely and avoiding these situations.

There are a few things to consider when buying a drone for real estate. You should make your choice dependent on what you will be using the drone for and your skill level as a pilot. 

Some drones are more specialized than others. However, the DJI Air 3 is probably all-around the best bang for your buck. It has a great camera and some of the best functions and features without breaking the bank.

But ultimately, the option is yours. For the latest information about aviation and more, check out FLYING Magazine.

How much do realtors pay for drone footage?

A basic photoshoot generally costs between $150 to $250 per hour. This rate can be higher depending on the time of day or even the drone pilot’s equipment. Videos can be more expensive at roughly $300 per minute of footage.

Is using a drone for real estate illegal?

It is entirely legal to use a drone for real estate as long as you have registered your drone, have acquired a drone pilot certificate, and are not flying in a zone with flight restrictions.

Do you need a license to be a drone photographer?

If you wish to use your drone for commercial purposes, you must register it and acquire a drone pilot certificate, even if your drone is in the sub 250 grams category.