I'm a former web developer who mostly focused on front-end work, but I've dabbled in some backend development as well. Recently, I transitioned to architectural rendering and have been freelancing in that field. However, I've noticed that it's getting harder to find clients since AI is taking over. I'm thinking about combining my skills in coding, rendering, and graphic design to offer a complete package for promoting real estate projects—handling everything from 3D renderings to website creation and print ads.
My main question is: what technologies would you recommend for building such websites? I'm looking for solutions that are simple to set up and deploy, allow clients to manage their own content, have good SEO capabilities, and possibly handle some web-app features for client requests. Security is also important.
I've previously worked with Django/DjangoCMS, a bit of WordPress (which I wasn't keen on), Next.js, and Nuxt. Are any of these still reliable options in 2026? Also, if I decide to go with DjangoCMS, will I need a front-end framework like React, or can I stick to traditional sync loading? Thanks for your input!
5 Answers
Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Pick tools you’re comfortable with! Focus on accessibility, especially for public sites. I suggest sticking to statically typed, compiled backend languages and using plain JS on the front end with minimal libraries—maybe even Stimulus for a bit of reactiveness.
Consider using Astro with a Headless CMS. It generates mostly static pages with minimal JS, making it fast and SEO-friendly. This approach supports React or Vue only when necessary, which could save you from unnecessary bloat and keep everything manageable for clients.
To answer your question, I don't think using a framework like React will be necessary in 2026, unless you plan on doing a lot of complex client-side interactions. For simpler setups, you can definitely stick with older methods.
While it’s not my area of expertise, I’d recommend WordPress. It checks all your boxes and powers a significant portion of the web. It might suit your needs well.
I've been using Nuxt and I find it really straightforward. You can manage content in real time with tools like Nuxt Content and Nuxt Studio. It’s super user-friendly! I also tried Strapi for larger projects, and it’s customizable through plugins. Highly recommend it if you foresee needing flexibility.
Yep, Strapi is fantastic! It allows for a lot of customizations, which is a huge plus.
Totally agree! Just use what you know. Most users don’t care about the tech behind the scenes.