XML Import Specification

1. Getting Started

Welcome to the European Real Estate XML Import Specification. This document provides all the technical details you need to create a property feed that integrates with our platform.

2. Overview

The European Real Estate XML feed is an absolute feed, meaning it should contain all your active properties each time it's generated. Properties not included in the feed will be automatically removed from our platform.

How Properties Are Processed

3. Guidelines & Conventions

Technical Requirements

• All XML tags MUST be lowercase
• The feed MUST be UTF-8 encoded
• Line breaks in descriptions must use actual newline characters (\n)
• Do NOT use CDATA sections
• URLs must be absolute (include full https:// prefix)
• Each account requires a unique feed URL

Data Format Standards

4. Feed Structure

Every feed follows this basic structure with a root element containing feed identification, agent information, and one or more property nodes.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<root>

    <european_realestate>
        <feed_version>1</feed_version>
    </european_realestate>

    <agent>
        <id>YOUR_AGENT_ID</id>
        <name>Agency Name</name>
        <email>contact@agency.com</email>
        <!-- Additional agent fields... -->
    </agent>

    <property>
        <!-- Property 1 fields... -->
    </property>

    <property>
        <!-- Property 2 fields... -->
    </property>

    <!-- Additional properties... -->

</root>

Agent Node Fields

5. Property Nodes Reference

Core Fields

<id>987654</id>

<date>2026-01-08 12:00:00</date>

<ref>ABC-123</ref>

Pricing

<price>250000</price>

<currency>EUR</currency>

<price_period>month</price_period>

Location

<country_code>ES</country_code>

<town>Marbella</town>

<region>Málaga</region>

<postcode>29600</postcode>

<location_detail>Costa del Sol</location_detail>

<location>
    <latitude>36.5108</latitude>
    <longitude>-4.8855</longitude>
</location>

Property Details

<type>apartment</type>

<condition>good_condition</condition>

<bedrooms>3</bedrooms>
<bathrooms>2</bathrooms>
<rooms>6</rooms>
<garage>1</garage>

<year_built>2020</year_built>

<surface_area>
    <built>150</built>
    <plot>500</plot>
</surface_area>

<energy_rating>
    <consumption>B</consumption>
    <emissions>C</emissions>
</energy_rating>

Content

<title>Stunning 3-Bedroom Apartment with Sea Views</title>

<desc>Beautiful modern apartment located in the heart of Marbella...</desc>

<url>https://example.com/property/123456</url>

<notes>Key available at office. Call before viewing.</notes>

Media

<images>
    <image id="1">
        <url>https://example.com/images/main.jpg</url>
        <title>Living Room</title>
    </image>
    <image id="2">
        <url>https://example.com/images/bedroom.jpg</url>
        <title>Master Bedroom</title>
    </image>
</images>

<virtual_tour>https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=XXXXX</virtual_tour>

<video>
    <url>https://youtube.com/watch?v=XXXXX</url>
    <type>youtube</type>
</video>

<features>
    <feature>swimming_pool</feature>
    <feature>air_conditioning</feature>
    <feature>sea_views</feature>
</features>

6. Property Types

Use these values for the <type> field:

Apartments

Commercial Property

Country Houses

Land & Ruins

Other

Town Houses

Villas

7. Features List

Include only the features that apply to your property:

8. Supported Countries

Use ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 codes for the <country_code> field:

9. Character Encoding

Your feed MUST be UTF-8 encoded. Special characters in text content must be properly escaped:

10. Testing Your Feed

Step 1: Validate XML Structure

Before submitting your feed, validate it using an XML validator:

• W3C Markup Validation Service
• XMLValidation.com
• Most modern browsers (open the XML file directly)

Step 2: Check Character Encoding

Verify your feed is properly UTF-8 encoded:

• W3C Internationalization Checker

Step 3: Verify Required Fields

Ensure all required fields are present for each property:

• <id> — Unique property ID
• <date> — Last modification date
• <price> — Property price
• <status> — Sale/rent status
• <type> — Property type
• <country_code> — ISO country code
• <town> — City/Town name
• <desc> — Property description

11. Automating Updates

Once your feed is approved, our system automatically syncs your properties daily.

Sync Schedule

• Feeds are processed automatically every 24 hours
• Processing typically occurs between 01:00 - 05:00 CET
• Large feeds may take longer to process

Best Practices

• Always include ALL active properties in your feed
• Update the <date> field when property data changes
• Ensure your feed URL remains consistent and accessible
• Monitor for any validation errors in your dashboard

12. Getting Help

If you have questions or encounter issues with your XML feed:

• Email: info@european.realestate
• Contact Form: european.realestate/contact

When contacting support, please include:

• Your agent ID
• Your feed URL
• A description of the issue
• Any error messages received