HomeTrace support
HomeTrace Support
Explore nearby property sales on your iPhone.
HomeTrace is a free iPhone app that shows nearby property sales on a map. Search by UK postcode, filter results by year and view the details available for each transaction.
At a glance
Property sales information
- Search by UK postcode.
- Browse nearby sales on a map.
- Filter results by year.
- Use location access only if you choose.
Project overview
A mobile platform for exploring the UK property market
HomeTrace helps people explore historic property transactions on a map, understand the context behind each sale and compare original prices with wider economic and housing-market indicators.
The project separates the iPhone experience from the data platform behind it: the app provides a fast, privacy-conscious map interface while a serverless API handles geospatial queries, property transactions and economic context.
iOS application
A focused native map experience
The app is built with SwiftUI and follows a pragmatic MVVM structure. Screens are separated from presentation logic and networking, with protocol-based services that support preview implementations and independent view-model tests.
MapKit and Core Location support postcode and nearby-area discovery. Location is used explicitly for map search and does not require background tracking.
Data platform
Decoupled services for property data
A Next.js and TypeScript serverless API handles geospatial discovery, transaction detail, postcode summaries and postcode resolution. MongoDB stores property transactions, postcode geography and price indices.
The API returns compact map-oriented payloads for discovery while reserving full transaction detail for the property view. Input validation and operational bounds protect broad geospatial requests.
Performance
Useful offline behaviour
SwiftData caches serialised API responses and geocoding results locally with expiry and recent-use eviction. This reduces repeated requests and lets the UI degrade gracefully when connectivity is limited.
Market context
Transparent calculations
HomeTrace distinguishes present-day monetary equivalents from estimated property market movement, explaining the index, period and geographic fallback used where available.
Privacy
Minimal personal-data use
Secrets remain in the backend, communication uses HTTPS and location is used only for map search when permission is granted. HomeTrace does not turn location into a tracking history.
Technology stack
Swift, SwiftUI, MapKit, Core Location, SwiftData and StoreKit 2 on iOS; Next.js, TypeScript and Node.js for the API; and MongoDB with geospatial querying for the data layer.
Help with HomeTrace
Find an answer quickly
HomeTrace is designed to make local property sales information easier to explore. Open a question below for practical guidance on searching, filtering and understanding the map.
How do I search for properties near an area?
Use the map or search for an area to centre the view, then browse the nearby property sales shown on the map. You can select a transaction to view its available details.
How do I use the UK postcode search?
Enter a valid UK postcode in the search field and submit it. HomeTrace uses the postcode to find the area and centre the map so you can explore nearby sales.
How does the year filter work?
Choose a year to show property sale transactions recorded for that year. Clear or change the filter to compare results from another period.
Why are several sales shown close together on the map?
Some coordinates may be approximate. HomeTrace separates nearby results visually when needed so that individual transactions remain readable on the map.
Why does HomeTrace ask for my location?
Location access is optional. If you allow it, HomeTrace uses your location to centre the map and help show nearby sales. You can revoke permission at any time in iOS Settings.
Are the results a property valuation or financial advice?
No. HomeTrace provides information for exploration only. Its results are not a property valuation and should not be treated as financial, legal or investment advice.
Need more help?
Use the Bitwise Masters contact form and tell us what you need help with in HomeTrace.