How MyHomeTrax works
A plain-language look at where your report comes from, and what it can and can't tell you.
How a report is built
When you enter an address, we look it up in public records in real time. We find the home on the map, then check the city or county permit portal that covers it, FEMA's flood maps, and the county assessor's property facts (things like year built, size, and lot). We put what we find into a single timeline of work done on the home, with each item linked back to its source.
Reports are compiled on demand, so they reflect what the public sources show right now. Nothing is stored: each lookup starts fresh.
Evidence tiers
Not every claim about a home is equally solid, so we label each job by how it was verified:
- Permit: found in an official permit record.
- License-verified: done by a contractor whose license we could confirm.
- Invoice: backed by a receipt or invoice.
- Self-reported: shared by an owner without other proof.
Today, reports show the Permit tier from public records. The other tiers are planned for later.
Coverage
We currently cover the Greater Seattle area: King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties in Washington. Many cities there have live permit connections, and we're adding more over time. For addresses outside that area, you'll still see things like the FEMA flood zone, but permit history won't be available yet.
Limitations
- Public permit records can be incomplete, delayed, or filed under a different address format, so some work may be missing.
- Unpermitted work won't appear, because there's no public record of it.
- A report is a starting point for questions, not a substitute for a professional home inspection, appraisal, or official flood determination. Always verify important details with the issuing agency and a licensed inspector.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it free?
- Yes. Looking up an address and reading the report is free, with no account needed. The site is supported by ads.
- Do you store my searches?
- No. We use the address only to fetch public records and build your report, then we let it go. We don't keep a list of addresses you look up or the reports we generate. See our privacy policy for details.
- Why is my report empty, or nearly empty?
- A few common reasons: the home is outside King, Snohomish, or Pierce counties; the city's permit portal isn't connected yet; the permits are filed under a slightly different address format; or the work simply wasn't permitted. Try the full street address with city, and check the Sources tab to see which records were searched.
- Where does the data come from?
- Government sources only: city and county permit portals, FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer, and county assessor records. Every report lists the exact sources it checked on its Sources tab, so you can verify anything with the issuing agency.
- Can I share or print a report?
- Yes. Use Share to copy a link anyone can open (the report is rebuilt live from public records when they do), or Print to save a clean PDF-friendly copy of the timeline.