UPCS Inspectors LLC

REAC Inspection Services

REAC News: NSPIRE Scoring Finalized

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NSPIRE-Training-Online

On 7/7/23, HUD published the final NSPIRE Scoring Notice in the Federal Register.

The notice addresses:

  • Explanation of the new REAC scoring model
  • Public comments from the March 2023 proposed notice
  • Comparisons between NSPIRE and UPCS scoring
  • The “Unit Threshold of Performance” that will cause an automatic fail
  • The new unit sample size
  • Duplicate defects inside the units
  • Which of the NSPIRE deficiencies will have zero point values
  • NSPIRE deficiencies that will have a grace period till 10/1/24

You can read the notice in the Federal Register.

Learn NSPIRE Scoring

Don’t let the new score changes catch you by surprise on your next REAC!

The new scoring system will be covered in our new NSPIRE for REAC Online Training.

This two-day course will teach you all the NSPIRE deficiencies and help you succeed on future NSPIRE inspections!

Anybody who is involved in Public Housing and Multi-Family Housing should take this class.

We Will Prepare You For NSPIRE

UPCS Inspectors LLC is a REAC RAP Contractor and we have stayed up to date on all the latest changes.

Above all, we strive to support our clients with the transition to NSPIRE and to be successful in this industry.

Visit our NSPIRE Online Training page for more information.

Questions? Contact us at education@upcsinspectors.com.

NSPIRE News: HUD Publishes Final NSPIRE Standards

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HUD REAC Inspection Checklist

On 6/15/23, HUD announced via official notice that the final version of the NSPIRE deficiency standards will be published in the federal register.

These standards will be the official deficiencies for the NSPIRE inspections set to begin this year.

Previously, HUD published NSPIRE Standards 2.2 last year for public comment.

The final standards notice is 35-pages long and details what changes were made to the proposed standards based on these public comments.

Although the announcement came out yesterday, HUD’s website has the final standards listed to be published on 6/20/23.

Based on a REAC contractor meeting attended by UPCS Inspectors LLC last month, they had predicted that the NSPIRE Standards 2.2 would be only 85-90% accurate compared to the final standards.

In addition, an administrative notice important for REAC based NSPIRE inspections has not been posted for review and the scoring notice published in March has not been finalized.

Last, there are several Housing Choice Voucher related items that must be published (such as the updated checklist) before those inspections can begin.

UPCS Inspectors LLC continues to monitor for these elements to finalize our NSPIRE training that will premiere this summer.

We Will Prepare You for NSPIRE

We will teach all the new changes to the REAC inspector protocol that will occur under NSPIRE (pre-inspection, inspection day, and post-inspection).

In addition, we will provide NSPIRE training specifically for the HCV and HOME programs.

Last, UPCS Inspectors LLC is a REAC RAP Contractor and will stay up to date on all the latest changes.

Questions? Contact us at education@upcsinspectors.com.

REAC News: NSPIRE Scoring Released for Public Comments

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HUD REAC UPCS Annual Inspections

On 3/28/23, HUD published the proposed Scoring Notice for NSPIRE in the Federal Register.

The notice covers how point loss values will be calculated in the NSPIRE inspection.

In addition, the notice covers the samples size that will be used for future REAC NSPIRE inspections.

It must be noted, only 30 days were provided for public comment.

Comments are officially due on 4/27/23.

Some most drastic changes are there will be no cap on the points that can be lost in a unit or if a property loses 30 points they will automatically fail the inspection with a 59.

You can read the notice and make comments in the Federal Register.

We Will Prepare You For NSPIRE

  • Once official, we will provide education on how the new NSPIRE scoring will work in all our future classes.
  • We will also teach all the new changes to the REAC inspector protocol that will occur under NSPIRE (pre-inspection, inspection day, and post-inspection).
  • Our classes will prepare you to identify NSPIRE deficiencies.
  • Last, UPCS Inspectors LLC is a REAC RAP Contractor and will stay up to date on all the latest changes.

UPCS Training Online

REAC wants to complete all current and past due inspections before NSPIRE begins on 7/1/23.

These properties will get one last UPCS-based score.

Are you one of the properties that REAC will inspect soon?

Don’t miss your chance to take our highly-rated UPCS Training online.

This two-day course will prepare you for UPCS inspections and help you succeed!

The next class is on 4/19-4/20/23.

Click here to learn more.

Questions? Contact us at education@upcsinspectors.com.

Breaking News: NSPIRE for HCV Deadlines

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On February 28, 2023 HUD hosted their last NSPIRE “Get Ready” Session in San Antonio, TX.

In this session, HUD stated they will soon finalize NSPIRE as the new inspection for Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) units.

NSPIRE for HCV inspections are expected to begin on 10/1/23 and will replace HQS.

The NSPIRE inspection will be conducted on an updated HUD-52580, the same form used for HQS inspections now.

Inspectors can use the paper HUD-52580 form or software on a tablet.

Housing authorities can elect to start NSPIRE on 10/1/24 and keep HQS for another year (this choice must be reported to the field office).

HUD must publish the administrative rules for a 90-day comment period before all these changes can be finalized.

We Will Prepare You For NSPIRE

UPCS Inspectors LLC will continue to teach the entire HUD-52580 inspection form in all HQS classes, the same form that will be used for NSPIRE.

We will provide further details on all the NSPIRE requirements discussed in this article in all HQS classes.

Last, we will provide a “NSPIRE for HQS Inspectors” class this fall for experienced HQS inspectors that want to learn the new inspection standards.

HQS Training Online

Don’t miss your chance to take our highly-rated HQS Training online.

This two-day course will increase your knowledge of the inspection protocol and help you succeed on future HQS and NSPIRE inspections!

The next class is on 5/10-5/11/23.

Click here to learn more.

Questions? Contact us at education@upcsinspectors.com.

NSPIRE Demonstration Extended By HUD (UPDATED)

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HUD Extends NSPIRE Demonstration

HUD Officially Extends the NSPIRE Demonstration Till 4/30/23

NSPIRE (National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate) is HUD’s new proposed inspection protocol set to replace UPCS (REAC physical inspections) and HQS (Housing Choice Voucher inspections).

The new proposed protocol prioritizes health, safety, and functional defects over those about appearance.

Moreover, NSPIRE introduces new deficiencies and corrective actions that currently do not exist.

NSPIRE was first announced in the Spring 2019, but the big question has been when will it become official?

On 9/28/21 HUD announced their biggest clue to date.

According to the official notice on the Federal Register, HUD has extended the NSPIRE Demonstration through April 30, 2023.

This demonstration allows HUD to test the proposed NSPIRE standards and protocols at properties that volunteer to be in the program.

In addition, anybody can provide comments on NSPIRE proposed standards throughout the demonstration period.

NSPIRE Timeline So Far

  • NSPIRE first announced Spring 2019.
  • Two-year demonstration period began 4th Quarter of Fiscal Year 2019.
  • First round of properties were approved 2/20/20.
  • COVID halted demonstration in 2020.
  • NSPIRE demonstrations started again 6/1/21.
  • On 9/28/21, HUD officially announced the NSPIRE demonstration will extend through 4/30/23.

UPDATE 10/20/22

Tonight UPCS Inspectors LLC took place in HUD teleconference exclusive to REAC contractors.

Based on the information shared, HUD now has possible tentative dates for the start of NSPIRE.

Specifically:

  • NSPIRE could start for public-housing inspections on 4/1/23. There is still a possibility for another six (6) month delay to 10/1/23 (which is start of HUD’s Fiscal Year 2023-2024).
  • NSPIRE could start for multi-family project based properties on 10/1/23. If public housing is delayed, it would coincide this this start date.
  • There is still no information on when NSPIRE will replace HQS or when it will replace UPCS for HOME program inspections.

As a REAC contractor, we will continue to stay in touch with HUD about future updates.

Main Take Away

Until NSPIRE becomes official, UPCS and HQS will continue to be the required inspection protocols.

Currently, UPCS Inspectors LLC includes elements of NSPIRE in its’ HQS and UPCS trainings.

Once NSPIRE becomes official, we will provide a full NSPIRE training course, which will include a spiral NSPIRE workbook (with resources, checklists, and photos of all deficiencies).

Please contact us if you have any questions.

Meet Our Founder

Founded in 2015 by owner Alejandro Dominguez, UPCS Inspectors LLC is a full service inspection company that specializes in annual inspections, NSPIRE training, and REAC consultation for the housing industry. In addition, UPCS Inspectors LLC is a contract vendor for the US … Read More

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Connect With Us

UPCS Inspectors LLC
2027 Coats Circle
Austin, TX 78748

P: 512-653-6999
E: alejandro@upcsinspectors.com