Real estate technology platforms are increasingly asked to demonstrate how they protect financial transactions and sensitive information.
As platforms grow, responding to individual security and control inquiries from each client becomes increasingly burdensome for finance and IT teams. Organizations with SOC reports often have a competitive advantage because they can provide standardized third-party assurance.
Demonstrating effective controls over financial reporting and data security is often a prerequisite for enterprise relationships. They are part of a real estate platform’s growth strategy. SOC readiness supports growth initiatives such as enterprise sales, strategic partnerships and expansion into regulated markets.
When Does a Real Estate Platform Need a SOC Report?
SOC reporting is typically required at key points in a platform’s growth:
Loan and Escrow Relationships
Lenders, investors and escrow partners often require assurance that financial data and transactions are processed accurately and securely. A SOC report can help demonstrate that your controls support reliable transaction processing.
Client and Partner Requests
Institutional clients and property owners frequently request SOC reports as part of vendor onboarding. They want assurance that your systems can protect their financial and operational data.
Third-Party Due Diligence
During vendor due diligence, organizations often request SOC reports to evaluate information security risk and governance controls.
Cybersecurity and Risk Management Strategy
Some organizations pursue SOC reporting proactively to strengthen controls and demonstrate security maturity.
SOC 1 vs. SOC 2: Which One Do You Need?
The appropriate SOC report depends on the nature of your services and the type of assurance requested by customers or auditors. SOC reports generally address either controls relevant to financial reporting (SOC 1) or controls related to security and operations (SOC 2). Here are the main differences between a SOC 1 and SOC 2 as it pertains to real estate.
SOC 1: Focused on Financial Reporting
SOC 1 reports assess controls at the service organization that could impact customers’ financial reporting. They are appropriate when your platform influences financial data used in accounting or reporting.
Common real estate use cases include:
- Loan servicing platforms
- Lease administration and accounting systems
- Pricing, hedging and valuation tools
- General ledger support systems
- Data and payment processing platforms
- Asset, facilities or transaction management services that affect financial reporting
SOC 1 reports are primarily intended for your clients’ management, your user entities, and their financial statement auditors.
SOC 2: Focused on Trust and Security
SOC 2 reports evaluate controls related to the AICPA’s Trust Services Criteria:
- Security: The mandatory Trust Services Criterion evaluating protection against unauthorized access. Data security, infrastructure, change management and incident response are all key areas covered by SOC 2 security controls.
- Availability: Your systems and information will be tested to ensure they are operational and accessible for customers to use.
- Confidentiality: Is information that’s designated as confidential fully protected against unauthorized access?
- Processing Integrity: Your SOC auditor will test your systems to ensure they process information completely, validly, accurately, timely and with full authorization.
- Privacy: This criteria examines the controls you have in place on how personal information is collected, used, disclosed, retained and disposed of.
SOC 2 is typically most relevant for SaaS-based real estate platforms that store or process client data. Clients want assurance that their data, investor information and property records remain protected.
A SOC 2 report can also reduce the burden of responding to repeated security questionnaires. Instead of completing lengthy custom responses for each client, organizations can share their SOC 2 report as standardized assurance.
Type 1 vs. Type 2
- Type 1: Evaluates control design at a point in time; often used for baseline assessments or urgent client requests
- Type 2: Evaluates design and operating effectiveness over time; typically required for ongoing assurance
Scoping: One of the Most Critical Decisions
Improper scoping is a leading cause of SOC delays and cost overruns. Your scope may include, but isn’t limited to:
- Property valuations and investor data
- Financial and transaction records
- Security policies and procedures
- Cloud infrastructure and hosting environments
- Identity and access management systems
- Code repositories and CI/CD tools
- HR and support platforms
- Third-party integrations and property management systems
Making the scope too big can increase time and cost. If the scope is too small, it can lead to surprises late in the process that delay issuance. Thoughtful scoping aligns the report with business risk and stakeholder expectations.
SOC Readiness: Where to Start
A readiness assessment helps organizations prepare before the formal audit. It’s recommended that you begin SOC readiness preparations at least 3 to 6 months before the SOC audit.
If it’s an SOC 1 report, your chief financial officer, finance director or another leader on your finance team will be the auditor’s point of contact. SOC 2 auditors typically work with technology leadership, such as a chief information officer (CIO), IT director or chief information security officer (CISO).
Typical pre-SOC steps include:
- Reviewing existing controls and security practices
- Comparing policies and procedures to SOC criteria
- Documenting internal processes clearly
- Identifying and remediating gaps
- Aligning scope with business objectives
Proactive readiness improves audit efficiency and provides support during an audit.
Common SOC Challenges for Real Estate Platforms
Many platforms encounter avoidable issues during SOC engagements:
- Limited communication with auditors
- Unclear project timelines
- Misaligned expectations
- Improper scoping
- Discovering control gaps late in the process
These challenges can disrupt deals, strain internal teams and undermine confidence. Working with a SOC auditor who communicates proactively and defines expectations early can help avoid these issues.
The Anders Difference
SOC reporting should be a structured, collaborative process — not a last-minute scramble that creates anxiety and uncertainty for your team.
Anders works with real estate platforms to align SOC reporting with growth goals, risk management and client expectations. Our team brings deep SOC expertise across industries, including real estate and real estate technology.
Clients benefit from:
- Frequent touchpoints and clear timelines
- Early identification of issues
- Collaborative, solution-oriented engagement
- Technology-forward auditing and documentation
- A hands-on, “white glove” approach from readiness through reporting
SOC readiness is not just about preparing for an audit. It’s about building stronger controls and protecting data integrity to support sustainable growth.
If your real estate platform is preparing for growth, new partnerships or investor scrutiny, now is the time to plan your SOC strategy.
Request a SOC readiness consultation with Anders SOC providers to understand your options, timeline and next steps.