The Sofee field guide
How do you find the right place for your family?
Sofee turns the messy decision of moving to North Dallas into a clearer set of choices, tradeoffs, and next checks.
Personalized
Your priorities drive the result.
Evidence-led
Signals come from real public data.
Candid
Tradeoffs stay visible.
01 · The method
Start with what your life needs
Set your budget
Enter your home price range. We show neighborhoods that fit—and a few stretch options worth considering.
Name your priorities
Tell us what matters most: schools, safety, commute, amenities, and the things you would trade away.
Pick your rhythm
Choose the lifestyle cues that feel like your family: quiet and predictable, social, diverse, outdoorsy, or close-in.
Read the tradeoffs
See personalized matches with the reasons behind them, including where a neighborhood may not fit.
02 · The evidence
What we measure
03 · Sources
Where the facts come from
| Data | Source | Refresh |
|---|---|---|
| Home values, listings, and rents | Zillow Research and Realtor.com Research | Twice monthly |
| School Clarity campuses, ratings, and STAAR | TEA AskTED, TXschools, and Research Portal | Weekly |
| ZIP-level school context | SchoolDigger | As available |
| Crime and safety | FBI Uniform Crime Reports | Annually |
| Commute times | Pre-calculated estimates | Periodically |
| Restaurants and entertainment | OpenStreetMap with Google Places sparse-data fallbacks | Quarterly |
| Convenience | OpenStreetMap | Quarterly |
| Parks and recreation | OpenStreetMap | Annually |
| Property taxes | County appraisal districts | Annually |
| Demographics and housing age | U.S. Census Bureau | Annually |
| Investment projects | City documents, TDLR, developer updates, and verified reporting | Daily discovery |
04 · Questions
A few honest answers
Why did my rankings change when I adjusted one slider?
Rankings respond to your priorities. Increase commute and shorter drives rise; increase schools and school signals matter more.
Can I see neighborhoods outside my budget?
Yes. Stretch options are shown when they are slightly over budget and the tradeoff may be worth seeing.
What is Sofee's Honest Take?
A candid assessment of who would thrive in a neighborhood—based on evidence and tradeoffs, not marketing.
How accurate is this?
Sofee is decision support, not a guarantee. Verify current prices, conditions, and fit in person before deciding.