Breanna Ochoa, Houston Realtor Houston, Sugar Land, Pearland, realtor

At its meeting on October 27, 2008, the Texas Real Estate Commission adopted revised Standards of Practice for inspectors, as well as a new required inspection report form for 1- to 4-family residential property. These revisions will take effect on February 1, 2009.

The newly adopted inspection report form looks very similar to the current form, with a few important changes.

• The explanatory text on the first page of the report form has been expanded to two pages to provide more information about the inspection.
• The "Not Functioning or In Need of Repair" check box has been replaced with a "Deficiency" check box.
• The report form has been rearranged to match the order of the major systems that are subject to inspection.

The Standards require inspectors to report certain items for informational purposes only and other items only if they are found to be deficient. Some of the items inspectors will be required to report (regardless of whether they are deficient) are as follows:

• the type of foundation, roof covering, branch circuit conductors, and heating and cooling systems
• the energy source of the heating system, cooling system, and water heater
• the vantage point from which the crawl space, attic, and roof were inspected, as well as any levels of the roof that were not accessed
• evidence of previous repairs to roofing materials
• evidence of water penetration
• the presence and approximate average depth of attic insulation and thickness of vertical insulation, where visible
• static water pressure
• the location of the water meter and main water supply valve
• water heater capacity

The current list of unsafe conditions, including excessive baluster spacing and the absence of safety glass at hazardous locations, was increased to include the absence of properly functioning arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) devices at required locations (family/living rooms, dining rooms, libraries, dens, bedrooms, sunrooms, recreation rooms, closets, hallways, or similar rooms or areas). Unlike ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) devices, which have long been required by building codes to protect occupants from risk of shock, AFCIs have been introduced more recently to protect property from the risk of fire caused by sparks. Form OP-I, Texas Real Estate Consumer Notice Concerning Hazards and Deficiencies, addresses the safety component of the inspection. The Commission approved this form for voluntary use by all licensees

The TREC web page dedicated to these changes is:

http://www.trec.state.tx.us/inspector/SpecialTopics/SoP_Changes_2008.asp

The full copy of the new Standards of Practice is available at:

http://www.trec.state.tx.us/pdf/rules/535.227-233.pdf

September 2008 United Salsa Newsletter Houston Curfew Lifted. Houston Salsa Congress Continues Tonight
In This Issue Melody Club Salsa Lessons Thursday Night and Saturdays - Salomon, Kelly, Nathan, & K www.melodyclub.net Thursday Night Salsa at The Melody Club Come Social Dance at The Melody Club every Thursday night from 9:30 - 11:30pm. Cost: Free	Greetings, The Houston Salsa Congress 2008 Returns as scheduled despite hurricane Ike this weekend, September 25-28, 2008. The Houston curfew was lifted as of 0600 Friday morning... Houston Salsa Congress September 25-28, 2008 The University of Houston Central Campus The Houston Curfew has been lifted as of 0600 Friday morning. The Houston congress continues tonight at the University of Houston. Thank you to all who supported the Texas Salsa Open Thursday night. Itinerary Friday/Saturday: Houston Salsa Congress(University Center Houston Room) Doors Open: 8:00pm Shows Start: 9:00pm Doors Close: 2:30am Sunday: Texas Salsa Open Finals and Shows (Wellness Center) Doors Open: 8:30pm Competition: 9:30pm Doors Close: 2am For up to date congress information visit... www.houstonsalsacongress.com We hope to see you on the dancefloor. Sincerely, J. Carter United Salsa Email: j_carter001@yahoo.com Phone: 832-741-9854 Web: http://www.unitedsalsa.com/

Here is a list of local food distribution sites. You may here them being called PODS on the news, or Points of Distribution. If anyone has more locations please add to the list.

Harris County:

** The Harris County centers will all have food. Some of them will also have water and ice. They open at 10 a.m. Monday September 15.

-- Bay Area Community (Seabrook)
5002 Nasa Rd 1

-- Baytown Annex (Baytown)
701 West Baker Road, 77521

-- Church Without Walls
5324 Bingle

-- Community of Faith
1023 Pinemont Drive

-- Deer Park Football Stadium Ctr.
701 W. St. Augustine

-- Faith Church
2104 Underwood

-- Fonteno Community Center
14350 Wallisville, 77049

-- Fountain of Praise
13950 Hillcroft

-- Grace Community Church
14505 I-45 (Gulf Fwy)

-- Greater Jerusalem
8901 Jensen

-- Greenspoint Harvest Time Church
17770 Imperial Valley

-- Houston Community College
SE 45 & Woodway

-- Humble Civic Center
8233 Will Clayton

-- Kipp Academy
9634 Mesa

-- Kroger
FM2920 @ hwy 249

-- New Light Church
7317 East Houston
-- New Life Fellowship Church (LaPorte)
2104 Underwood

-- Ripley House
4410 Navigation

-- San Jacinto Center
604 Highlands Wood

-- Second Baptist
6400 Woodway

-- South Houston Community Center
1007 State Street

-- St. Agnes
3730 S. Acres
Airport and Scott

-- Texas Southern University (TSU) Parking Lot
3600 Rosewood at Scott

-- Tinsel Town
11450 East Freeway

-- Veterans Stadium
2901 Dabney

-- West Town Mall
4100 Decker Drive

-- Zion Lutheran
3606 Beauchamp

Brazoria County
*** The Brazoria County distribution centers will open at 8 a.m. Monday. They will have water and ice.

--Angleton
Angleton Recreation Center
1601 N Valderas St
Angleton, TX 77515

--Freeport
Freeport Police Dept.
430 N Brazosport Blvd
Freeport, TX 77541

--Brazoria
West Brazos Junior High
111 Roustabout Dr.,
Brazoria, TX 77422

--Friendswood
Centennial Park
220 S. Friendswood

Montgomery County:
--Fellowship of The Woodlands
1 Fellowship Drive
(wather only. Free food 12-6pm)

-- Magnolis HS
TBD

-- Willis Community Center
Opens at 9:00 a.m.

-- Montgomery Junior High
Stewart Creek - opens at 8:00 am.

-- Commissioners Barn
23628 Robert's Road

Galveston Island

*** The following locations will have water, ice and possibly food. Officials say to head to the parking lots when crews arrive, most likely after 10 a.m. Monday.

--Wal-Mart
64th and Seawall Blvd.

--Academy
47th at Seawall Blvd.

Galveston County

--Dickinson
McAdams Junior High
Hill Street
Opens at 12 p.m. Monday
(ice, water and MREs)

-- Texas City
HEB

-- Hitchcock
Hitchcock High School
6625 FM 2004

-- Kemah/Bacliff
Target

-- Friendswood
Centennial Park
220 S. Friendswood

-- Galveston
Ball High School
4115 Avenue Q

--Kemah
Target
255 Marina Bay

Centennial Park
2220 S. Friendswood

-- League City
Bay Colony Elementary (hot meals)

Hall Elementary (hot meals)

Ross Elementary (hot meals)

League Park
500 E. Main
(hot meals)

CVS
270 and League City Parkway
(hot meals)

Kroger
2640 League City Parkway
(hot meals)

Glenn Cove Neighborhood
FM 2094 and Glenn Cove Blvd.
(hot meals)

Clear Creek High School

-- La Marque
La Marque High School

-- Santa Fe
4205 Jackson

Liberty County

The Liberty County Sheriff's Office told 11 News three supply trucks came to the county Sunday, but they ran out of supplies. It was unclear when more would arrive.

Tomball
South-West corner of SH 249 and FM 2920.
(The "Old Kroger Center") 14060 FM2920

Chambers County
-- Midtown
Anahuac High School
305 Kansas

-- Winnie Area
E. Chambers Elementary
East Fear Road

-- West Side
Barbara Hill Middle School
9800 Eagle Drive

-- Baytown
West Town Mall
4100 Decker Dr.

Fort Bend County
--Rosenberg
Lowes parking lot
Highway 36 and Highway 59
opens 10 a.m. Tuesday
(water and ice)

--Missouri City
City Hall
1522 Texas Parkway
opens at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday
(limited supply of ice)

-- Sugar Land
Mercer Stadium
16403 Lexington Blvd.
(two trucks of ice)
opens at 8:00 a.m. Tuesday

--Arcola
Arcola City Hall
13222 Highway 6 South
opens at 10 a.m. Tuesday
(ice, water and food)

--Stafford
Southern Ice Cream
13755 Greenland Drive
10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tuesday
(ice only)

Centerpoint is giving frequent updates on the electricity status by zip codes. Here are the latest numbers:

Information as of Sept. 16, 2008, 9:28 p.m. CST

Total number of customers: 2.26 million Total customers restored: 750,000 Total customers with power: 858,000 (38% of total customers) Total customers without power: 1.40 million (62% of total customers) * Outage and restoration numbers approximated ** Next expected update: 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008

If you are lucky enough like me to be staying with a friend or family member until your power is turned on.... you can check Centerpoint's website for the most recent update. You will be able to see what the status is for your area without having to use precious gas to drive there. Here is the link:

http://www.centerpointenergy.com/staticfiles/ike/outages.html

Below is a map of the electrical outage for Centerpoint customers. Unfortunately the areas in red are all the places that DON'T have electricity. They are reportins as of September 16 that 1.43 million of their 2.26 million Houston area customers are without electricity. This includes the majority of the inner loop area, the Northern parts of Sugar Land, the Northern parts of Pearland, and a huge chunk of the Northeast side of town.

Entergy has given deadlines for when power will be restored to their customers. The dates reflect when EVERY customer in that area will have power. Some parts of Woodlands had electricity turned back on yesterday.

Entergy's projected timetable:
Sept. 21Orange, Vidor
Sept. 22Navasota
Sept. 23Port Arthur, Port Neches
Sept. 25The Woodlands, Winnie, Anahuac, Dayton, Ames, Daisetta, Saratoga
Sept. 29Conroe, Silsby, Lumberton, Woodville, Huntsville, Madisonville
Oct. 5New Caney, Cleveland
Oct. 6Beaumont, Silver Lake