First off, DON'T PANIC. An appraisal is an opinion of market value given by a licensed appraiser on a particular property at a specific point in time. The key word here is opinion. Appraising is not an exact science otherwise there would be no need for appraisers and all anyone need do is get a value from online services like Zillow.
Even though licensed appraisers all have to adhere to the same set of guidelines approved by the Appraisal Foundation, there are so many variables involved that the end result can only be described as an opinion of value. This does NOT mean that the appraiser's opinion is not a correct valuation; it just means that there can be more than one opinion that is correct. These differing values are supported by the appraiser's choice of considerations, and the weight given to each of them, which affect the house being appraised. The differences in appraised value can be even more marked if one of the appraisers is from outside the area where the property is located as opposed to the value given by a local appraiser.
What to do. If you had an appraisal done when you priced your home for sale, get in touch with that original appraiser and ask them to do an updated appraisal for you. Tell them that the value is coming in lower than the amount they appraised it for and you need documentation to support your price. You will probably have to pay for this, but the cost should be lower if the original appraisal was completed not too long ago. If the re-appraisal supports your sale price, get in touch with the buyer's lender immediately and present your case for this value to be accepted. If the difference in value is considerable, the lender might insist on a third appraisal and/or an appraisal review.
What if you didn't get an appraisal before you priced your house? Well then, you have a couple of options. Obviously, the first is to get your own appraisal done and hope that it comes back at the price you need and, if it does, then proceed as above. If this second appraisal also comes in lower, then it would appear you have overpriced your house to begin with. You can then either lower your price to the appraised value or ask that the buyer to come up with the difference in cash if they still want the house, or you could carry a second for the difference. Most buyers won't do this unless there was a burning desire for them to have that particular home. If you then decide that you still want to sell, you can put the house back on the market at the appraised price.
The other option is to challenge the appraiser's findings. This can be very difficult and time consuming. To do this, you will need a copy of the appraisal, not just the summary. The best thing to challenge is the comparable sales the appraiser used. Remember, these are homes that have sold and closed, not those still on the market. Look at these very carefully and then go visit them to see if they are truly comparable to your house. You need to make sure that the appraiser is comparing apples to apples. If there are comps used that are not similar to yours, maybe in a different tract, different and lower quality builder, a builders value priced model, different school district, in the county instead of the city etc. then you have a strong case for an appraisal review. Rather than just going to the lender and saying that the wrong comps were used, you have to go armed with comps that will support your claim of a higher value. To do this, you will need to go to the County Recorder's office and search for homes that are similar to yours which have recorded as sold within the past six months. The more recent solds are the best and most accurate ones to use. When you look at the appraisal report, look carefully to see what adjustments the appraiser made to the comps to compensate for amenities that you do or don't have in your house. Sometimes you might find incorrect allowances made for a/c, pools, spas, new roof, landscaping etc. These all have value but not the same value as the price you paid for them.
After reviewing everything carefully and you can't find any glaring discrepancies in the report, then the best thing to do is accept the findings and move on. If you sold your house using a real estate agent, then there are things that they can help you with, but that's another topic.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Sunday, June 10, 2012
School Counselor Cover Letter
For those of you looking to find a lucrative and rewarding job as a school counselor, here is an example of a cover letter that will aid you in writing your own. Take a look.
A school counselor is the ear for student's problems in school. These problems could be career-related, personal, or study-related. A student can talk to a school counselor about problems with peer pressure, problems with choosing a career, difficulty studying or catching up with a particular subject, or even problems in the home in some cases. A school counselor not only hears out a student, but also provides the appropriate guidance to her/him so that her/his problem may be resolved. Such a professional may also serve as a mediator between the student and say a professor or a classmate, if there has been a miscommunication that has resulted in a major problem. As such, the prime job of a school counselor is to counsel students and aid their psychological development in a healthy manner. By implementing various techniques that help reduce their stress, school counselors help students grow with lesser pressure that they are prone to in today's day and time.
The job of a school counselor is highly rewarding, and those of you who wish to make a definite career in this field should know how to introduce yourselves to a potential employer. This you can do by writing a good cover letter that will get you an appropriate job. Given here is a sample of a cover letter for a school counselor that will help you write a good one yourself.
How to Write a Cover Letter: for School Counselors
The job of a school counselor is highly sensitive, which is why you should make the most of the cover letter you send to a prospective school, explaining why you would be the best candidate for the position. It is all you have to speak for you till you are granted a personal interview for further discussion. So, here's a sample you can go through to draft your cover letter on similar lines.
Sample Cover Letter for a School Counselor
Your Name
Address Contact Number: 0000-0000 E-Mail Address
________________________________________
Date
Contact Name (Name of Hiring Manager)
Contact Designation
School Name
School Address
School City, State, Zip
Dear Ms./Mr. Last Name,
This letter is in response to the job posting that I have come across on the JKL website for a school counselor with your esteemed school. I understand that you are looking for someone with a good amount of experience working with children, and I can safely say that I may be able to fit the bill in more ways than one.
I have 6 years of work experience in the field and have primarily been working with children in high school. However, my expertise is not limited just to this lot and I can easily cater to the needs of children of any age group in school. My experience began as early as college, when I used to volunteer with school going children in orphanages, and would advice them on the social problems they faced in school. That is when I decided that being a school counselor was the perfect job for me.
Having started at an early age, I find that my expertise does in fact lie in helping students deal with social pressure, and helping them cope with the stress and frustration it brings. I have also been successfully able to help students improve their self-esteem by making them focus on past successes, so that they may be able to garner the strength for future aspirations. I don't think age has any role to play when it comes to warming up to students. So long as they can find a mentor and a guide in someone, they are likely to open up to them.
I believe my aforementioned skills will be an asset to your school, and that I will definitively be able to contribute to the psychological growth and personality development of the children at an individual level, as well as to meet the expectations of the school from students who pass out from it. I assure you that I am a highly dedicated professional who understands the sensitivity of the position as a school counselor. Do feel free to call me on the number mentioned above to arrange an interview and discuss this position at length, at your convenience.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Signature
Name
Encl: Resume
Since your resume will talk about your experience in detail, focus your letter on your personality traits and your previous experience with kids. This will boost your prospects for an interview, and is likely to have you land that coveted job. Good luck!
A school counselor is the ear for student's problems in school. These problems could be career-related, personal, or study-related. A student can talk to a school counselor about problems with peer pressure, problems with choosing a career, difficulty studying or catching up with a particular subject, or even problems in the home in some cases. A school counselor not only hears out a student, but also provides the appropriate guidance to her/him so that her/his problem may be resolved. Such a professional may also serve as a mediator between the student and say a professor or a classmate, if there has been a miscommunication that has resulted in a major problem. As such, the prime job of a school counselor is to counsel students and aid their psychological development in a healthy manner. By implementing various techniques that help reduce their stress, school counselors help students grow with lesser pressure that they are prone to in today's day and time.
The job of a school counselor is highly rewarding, and those of you who wish to make a definite career in this field should know how to introduce yourselves to a potential employer. This you can do by writing a good cover letter that will get you an appropriate job. Given here is a sample of a cover letter for a school counselor that will help you write a good one yourself.
How to Write a Cover Letter: for School Counselors
The job of a school counselor is highly sensitive, which is why you should make the most of the cover letter you send to a prospective school, explaining why you would be the best candidate for the position. It is all you have to speak for you till you are granted a personal interview for further discussion. So, here's a sample you can go through to draft your cover letter on similar lines.
Sample Cover Letter for a School Counselor
Your Name
Address Contact Number: 0000-0000 E-Mail Address
________________________________________
Date
Contact Name (Name of Hiring Manager)
Contact Designation
School Name
School Address
School City, State, Zip
Dear Ms./Mr. Last Name,
This letter is in response to the job posting that I have come across on the JKL website for a school counselor with your esteemed school. I understand that you are looking for someone with a good amount of experience working with children, and I can safely say that I may be able to fit the bill in more ways than one.
I have 6 years of work experience in the field and have primarily been working with children in high school. However, my expertise is not limited just to this lot and I can easily cater to the needs of children of any age group in school. My experience began as early as college, when I used to volunteer with school going children in orphanages, and would advice them on the social problems they faced in school. That is when I decided that being a school counselor was the perfect job for me.
Having started at an early age, I find that my expertise does in fact lie in helping students deal with social pressure, and helping them cope with the stress and frustration it brings. I have also been successfully able to help students improve their self-esteem by making them focus on past successes, so that they may be able to garner the strength for future aspirations. I don't think age has any role to play when it comes to warming up to students. So long as they can find a mentor and a guide in someone, they are likely to open up to them.
I believe my aforementioned skills will be an asset to your school, and that I will definitively be able to contribute to the psychological growth and personality development of the children at an individual level, as well as to meet the expectations of the school from students who pass out from it. I assure you that I am a highly dedicated professional who understands the sensitivity of the position as a school counselor. Do feel free to call me on the number mentioned above to arrange an interview and discuss this position at length, at your convenience.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Signature
Name
Encl: Resume
Since your resume will talk about your experience in detail, focus your letter on your personality traits and your previous experience with kids. This will boost your prospects for an interview, and is likely to have you land that coveted job. Good luck!
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Your 401 Plan Serviced By Fidelity
If you sign up for e-mail statements or follow the companies rules. For more complete information on any investment restrictions associated with your employer-sponsored plans at work. Start by contacting the school and explaining the hardship you and transfer the money from your Plan Administrator generally no less than 30 days nor more than 90 days before your distribution date. The different types of 401k offered by Fidelity Brokerage Services.
Employers Find out more about content provided by Fidelity Investments is that most of their brokerage accounts. If you receive a Special Tax Notice Regarding Plan Payments from your 401 plan serviced by Fidelity. Options when you retire Depending on your retirement fund being maximized for you. Withdrawals from your 401K into one of their fees can be avoided if you hold company stock in your future. Is your retirement investments as well. Use the chart below to determine if consolidating your retirement goals and how you can manage your retirement goals and how can you get there. Through this option one can supervise your retirement savings more efficiently.
This option lets you view and update their plans through the wireless service. They also offer a feature called Fidelity Anywhere. Excessive Trading Policies Target Market Timing Some investors may contact us for more information about your account, account balances, loan balances, and much more. The Fall Issue of Stages Online Is In These articles can help you with retirement planning. Smart Moves for Retirement.
Employers and employee who have never logged in. The company also has an automated telephone service centers and the up to date prices for all eligible plan investment opportunities. Another convenient way to please both the employees and yourself.
The tax information contained herein is general in nature, is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal or tax situation. Contribution limits Before you invest, understand the 401 account contribution limits established by the FDIC or any other government agency. Each statement includes in depth information about the tax advantages of joining a 401. These are the sections of Enrollment you will get a statement every three months. The 401k Center has a network of financial professionals that work with the best qualified companies. The different types of 401k offered by Fidelity Investments is that most of their brokerage accounts. Start by contacting the school and explaining the hardship you and transfer the money from your 401K into one of their brokerage accounts.
Information about the services offered by Fidelity Brokerage Services.
Employers Find out more about content provided by Fidelity Investments is that most of their brokerage accounts. If you receive a Special Tax Notice Regarding Plan Payments from your 401 plan serviced by Fidelity. Options when you retire Depending on your retirement fund being maximized for you. Withdrawals from your 401K into one of their fees can be avoided if you hold company stock in your future. Is your retirement investments as well. Use the chart below to determine if consolidating your retirement goals and how you can manage your retirement goals and how can you get there. Through this option one can supervise your retirement savings more efficiently.
This option lets you view and update their plans through the wireless service. They also offer a feature called Fidelity Anywhere. Excessive Trading Policies Target Market Timing Some investors may contact us for more information about your account, account balances, loan balances, and much more. The Fall Issue of Stages Online Is In These articles can help you with retirement planning. Smart Moves for Retirement.
Employers and employee who have never logged in. The company also has an automated telephone service centers and the up to date prices for all eligible plan investment opportunities. Another convenient way to please both the employees and yourself.
The tax information contained herein is general in nature, is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal or tax situation. Contribution limits Before you invest, understand the 401 account contribution limits established by the FDIC or any other government agency. Each statement includes in depth information about the tax advantages of joining a 401. These are the sections of Enrollment you will get a statement every three months. The 401k Center has a network of financial professionals that work with the best qualified companies. The different types of 401k offered by Fidelity Investments is that most of their brokerage accounts. Start by contacting the school and explaining the hardship you and transfer the money from your 401K into one of their brokerage accounts.
Information about the services offered by Fidelity Brokerage Services.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Choosing the Best Property Management System for Commercial Property Managers
Being a commercial rental property manager is not an easy task. What if you don't have the necessary tools that would be of help in your work? If you're a solopreneur who owns or manages commercial rental property, and are looking to make your life easier, why not look for the right affordable property management software for your business. A property management system that would have all your necessities packed in one. In this article we will help you determine what commercial property management software is best for your needs.
First, you must know your needs. What are you looking for in property management software? What are the functions, abilities or features that you are looking for? Second, do you need a desktop application or a web-based program? Third, is the software user-friendly? Fourth, how affordable is the retail property management software?
The common features of a commercial property management software are:
* Keep track of rent payments for tenants which include utilities and other charges such as late charges. Accept partial and government subsidies.
* An easy-to-use database that tracks all the information about your tenants that you will need.
* Keep track of all your work orders, and scheduled repairs.
* Record important information on all of your rental units.
* Organize your tasks and easily create lists of things to do.
* Keep track of deposits, payments to accounts, and other income sources. Generate registers for your income reporting accounts.
* A way to add misc. charges and record full and partial rent payments and print rent receipts.
* Generate rent receipts, statements, and keep track of payments.
* Keep track of any appliances, furniture, etc. that is part of the rental unit with this component.
* Record all your expense payments and travel deductions. View deposits and debits for any number of expense reporting accounts.
* Track of all your income and tax deductible expenses and generate tax form reports.
Some commercial real estate software will also keep track of schedules, generate form letters to be mailed or emailed, and provide other tools to help you streamline your business. Consider these additional features:
* Send promotional materials or other form letters to all of your guests, vendors, family, friends or any other contacts.
* Create Work Orders for any repairs or maintenance, track vendors, schedules, work completed and amounts paid.
* Display your appointments, deadlines and other important events in Daily, Weekly or Monthly Calendar formats.
* Create To Do Lists with room for notes, deadlines, priorities, etc. with project management software.
The best lease management software also includes tools which allow you to look up where area codes are, calculate time zone differences, and has a universal calculator that adds or subtracts numbers, dates and times, converts length, volume and weight measurements, computes discounts, sales tax, foreign money exchanges and loan payment amounts.
One major thing to consider is, should it be a desktop application or a web-based application? Here are some differences between the two:
* A desktop application is an application that runs without the need of an internet connection. A web-based application, which includes any software you log on to a web site to access, requires a fast, reliable internet connection.
* Desktop software is generally much faster and easier to use than web-based software. If you do not have a very fast internet connection, it could take you several times longer to get the same amount of work done.
* If your web connection goes down, or the company's website were to go down, or the company went out of business, you will no longer have access to your data if using web-based applications. A desktop application, if backed-up regularly, is more secure and reliable than a web-based application.
* With web-based applications you rent the software, paying monthly fees and often get only email support. With desktop applications, you generally pay just once, and technical support is often included.
Would you rather pay less on a monthly basis for web-based software, which will add up to much more over time, or pay one reasonable amount up front and get the features, speed and reliability of a desktop application?
As a solopreneur, I'm sure you would rather find ways to save money and at the same time have the features and capabilities you are looking for in commercial rental management software?
With these things in mind, you can now determine what would be the best commercial property management software for your need. The best building management software in my opinion is Rental Property Tracker Plus. It is a reasonably priced desktop application that is easy to use and is available for most Mac and Windows computers.
First, you must know your needs. What are you looking for in property management software? What are the functions, abilities or features that you are looking for? Second, do you need a desktop application or a web-based program? Third, is the software user-friendly? Fourth, how affordable is the retail property management software?
The common features of a commercial property management software are:
* Keep track of rent payments for tenants which include utilities and other charges such as late charges. Accept partial and government subsidies.
* An easy-to-use database that tracks all the information about your tenants that you will need.
* Keep track of all your work orders, and scheduled repairs.
* Record important information on all of your rental units.
* Organize your tasks and easily create lists of things to do.
* Keep track of deposits, payments to accounts, and other income sources. Generate registers for your income reporting accounts.
* A way to add misc. charges and record full and partial rent payments and print rent receipts.
* Generate rent receipts, statements, and keep track of payments.
* Keep track of any appliances, furniture, etc. that is part of the rental unit with this component.
* Record all your expense payments and travel deductions. View deposits and debits for any number of expense reporting accounts.
* Track of all your income and tax deductible expenses and generate tax form reports.
Some commercial real estate software will also keep track of schedules, generate form letters to be mailed or emailed, and provide other tools to help you streamline your business. Consider these additional features:
* Send promotional materials or other form letters to all of your guests, vendors, family, friends or any other contacts.
* Create Work Orders for any repairs or maintenance, track vendors, schedules, work completed and amounts paid.
* Display your appointments, deadlines and other important events in Daily, Weekly or Monthly Calendar formats.
* Create To Do Lists with room for notes, deadlines, priorities, etc. with project management software.
The best lease management software also includes tools which allow you to look up where area codes are, calculate time zone differences, and has a universal calculator that adds or subtracts numbers, dates and times, converts length, volume and weight measurements, computes discounts, sales tax, foreign money exchanges and loan payment amounts.
One major thing to consider is, should it be a desktop application or a web-based application? Here are some differences between the two:
* A desktop application is an application that runs without the need of an internet connection. A web-based application, which includes any software you log on to a web site to access, requires a fast, reliable internet connection.
* Desktop software is generally much faster and easier to use than web-based software. If you do not have a very fast internet connection, it could take you several times longer to get the same amount of work done.
* If your web connection goes down, or the company's website were to go down, or the company went out of business, you will no longer have access to your data if using web-based applications. A desktop application, if backed-up regularly, is more secure and reliable than a web-based application.
* With web-based applications you rent the software, paying monthly fees and often get only email support. With desktop applications, you generally pay just once, and technical support is often included.
Would you rather pay less on a monthly basis for web-based software, which will add up to much more over time, or pay one reasonable amount up front and get the features, speed and reliability of a desktop application?
As a solopreneur, I'm sure you would rather find ways to save money and at the same time have the features and capabilities you are looking for in commercial rental management software?
With these things in mind, you can now determine what would be the best commercial property management software for your need. The best building management software in my opinion is Rental Property Tracker Plus. It is a reasonably priced desktop application that is easy to use and is available for most Mac and Windows computers.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Kansas City No Credit Check Auto Sales - Buying a First Car
If you're a student or young adult who has never owned a car before, there are a few factors to consider before you make this important purchase. One problem that you may run up against is not having any credit history. While having no credit is better than having bad credit, it's still something that can be held against you by lenders. For those who are living in the Kansas City area, you can visit a Kansas City no credit check auto sales dealership. This is a way to get financing for your first car when you need it most. Having a vehicle in the Kansas City area is a good idea, because it is spread out over 15 counties, including Johnson County, and has a population of over 2 million residents.
Buying a car is a good way to get you around, whether you need to get to work, school, or a friend's house. By visiting a Kansas City no credit check auto sales center, you can peruse your options without worrying about being denied due to your lack of credit history. However, you will need to qualify for financing based on some other criteria. For example, you will either need to have your own form of employment or your parents will need to offer their financial details. You will also need to submit a valid driver's license, and your insurance papers.
With this in mind, it's a good idea to think about the type of car you want before you visit the Kansas City no credit check auto sales dealership. Think about the size and model of car that will best fit your lifestyle. If you're going to be using this car only for yourself, you could choose a smaller car, while if it's going to be shared with your family, you'll want something larger. If you plan on taking the car to college, you might want to choose a car that has enough storage to pack up your belongings.
The area where you will be driving your car can also influence the best type to choose from a Kansas City no credit check auto sales dealer. If you're going to be driving only on the highways, you will want a good cruiser that can handle high winds. For driving around Kansas City, it's a good idea to choose a hatchback or other smaller car that can zip in and out of traffic. These are just a few of the practicalities to think about when you are establishing credit and purchasing something as important as your first car.
Buying a car is a good way to get you around, whether you need to get to work, school, or a friend's house. By visiting a Kansas City no credit check auto sales center, you can peruse your options without worrying about being denied due to your lack of credit history. However, you will need to qualify for financing based on some other criteria. For example, you will either need to have your own form of employment or your parents will need to offer their financial details. You will also need to submit a valid driver's license, and your insurance papers.
With this in mind, it's a good idea to think about the type of car you want before you visit the Kansas City no credit check auto sales dealership. Think about the size and model of car that will best fit your lifestyle. If you're going to be using this car only for yourself, you could choose a smaller car, while if it's going to be shared with your family, you'll want something larger. If you plan on taking the car to college, you might want to choose a car that has enough storage to pack up your belongings.
The area where you will be driving your car can also influence the best type to choose from a Kansas City no credit check auto sales dealer. If you're going to be driving only on the highways, you will want a good cruiser that can handle high winds. For driving around Kansas City, it's a good idea to choose a hatchback or other smaller car that can zip in and out of traffic. These are just a few of the practicalities to think about when you are establishing credit and purchasing something as important as your first car.
Is This A Legally Binding Orlando Real Estate Contract
Modern technology is a wonderful thing, creating easy connectivity between people all over the nation. But it's also causing problems in many areas, and buying Orlando real estate is one of them.
Here's the problem: Many people selling Orlando real estate may live in another city or state. In this case, negotiations may be conducted over the phone, through email, via Yahoo conversations - some even use Twitter for real estate deals and information.
At the same time, this also means that legal documents may be passed through email, uploaded to a website for easy viewing or through any number of other online methods. PDF documents, for instance, have become a very popular way to pass on legal forms because they're easy to fill out, don't have to printed, etc.
As the buyer, you can't afford to take the seller's word that they've accepted your position - especially through email. For instance, a buyer recently had a home sale fall through. The seller accepted the terms through email, told the buyer that the seller had signed the contract and sent it on to the agent. Somehow, even though the buyer was positive the contract had been agreed upon, the house was sold to another buyer.
Although laws change from state to state, it's always best to have the contract in printed form, with an actual signature - in ink. Without the actual contract, all you have is an email. Although emails can be legally binding, they don't hold a candle to having the printed and signed contract in hand.
Here are a few tips to make sure your housing purchase goes off without a hitch:
Meet in person - This may be a difficult prospect, especially if the seller lives out of state. However, if you can't meet them in person, their agent should at least be local. Meeting with the home seller's legal representative (i.e. Real estate agent) is the next best thing.
Get it in writing, and get it in print - Who wants to wait for the post office to deliver a paper contract when you can get it from an email? Well you do. Yes, it might slow the process of buying a house and closing the deal, but so will having the seller back out.
Verify the important points - Make sure you and the seller really do agree on the terms of the contract before you put your signature on it. You, or preferably your buyer's agent, should go over the contract with the seller's agent who should go over it with the seller.
It's a great time to buy Orlando real estate, but don't let technology lose you the contract. Cross your t's and dot your i's - on paper!
Here's the problem: Many people selling Orlando real estate may live in another city or state. In this case, negotiations may be conducted over the phone, through email, via Yahoo conversations - some even use Twitter for real estate deals and information.
At the same time, this also means that legal documents may be passed through email, uploaded to a website for easy viewing or through any number of other online methods. PDF documents, for instance, have become a very popular way to pass on legal forms because they're easy to fill out, don't have to printed, etc.
As the buyer, you can't afford to take the seller's word that they've accepted your position - especially through email. For instance, a buyer recently had a home sale fall through. The seller accepted the terms through email, told the buyer that the seller had signed the contract and sent it on to the agent. Somehow, even though the buyer was positive the contract had been agreed upon, the house was sold to another buyer.
Although laws change from state to state, it's always best to have the contract in printed form, with an actual signature - in ink. Without the actual contract, all you have is an email. Although emails can be legally binding, they don't hold a candle to having the printed and signed contract in hand.
Here are a few tips to make sure your housing purchase goes off without a hitch:
Meet in person - This may be a difficult prospect, especially if the seller lives out of state. However, if you can't meet them in person, their agent should at least be local. Meeting with the home seller's legal representative (i.e. Real estate agent) is the next best thing.
Get it in writing, and get it in print - Who wants to wait for the post office to deliver a paper contract when you can get it from an email? Well you do. Yes, it might slow the process of buying a house and closing the deal, but so will having the seller back out.
Verify the important points - Make sure you and the seller really do agree on the terms of the contract before you put your signature on it. You, or preferably your buyer's agent, should go over the contract with the seller's agent who should go over it with the seller.
It's a great time to buy Orlando real estate, but don't let technology lose you the contract. Cross your t's and dot your i's - on paper!
Sunday, June 3, 2012
The Every day life of the Aztec people
Very few is left today of the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. Most of what is left of this city lies at the bottom of Mexico city's Historical center. The city was largely destroyed during the Spanish conquest between the year 1519 and 1521 A.D, However, some of this remains can still be appreciated in the "Templo Mayor Museum" and in the nearby neighborhood of Tlatelolco. The visitor would normally appreciate the ancient ruins, but How did these people actually lived? How was their every day life and their social structures. This is an extensive topic which I will try to briefly cover in a series of articles. In the present one, I will try to cover the Aztec social divisions and how they evolved from the foundation of Tenochtitlan until the Spanish conquest.
As I mentioned in the previous article, when the Aztecs arrived to the central valley where Mexico City lies today, they were mainly a tribe of nomadic hunters with a very basic social structure. Every head of the family at that time was a warrior and a farmer. These family heads participated of larger discussions with other family heads. These discussions were the political center of the early Aztec "democracy", and were very much influenced by the Priests of the god "Huitzilopochtli", which had overall authority over most public aspects of the Aztec People.
This primitive structure evolved to give birth to more complex, differentiated social divisions during the XVth century. Priests were no longer involved with military and civil actions, and the influence of commerce had a big impact in the social structure, with traders occupying an important place. One man above all used to shine against all others, the Tlatoani, the Aztec emperor. The tribal democracy had finally given up to an aristocratic Monarchy.
The nahuatl word "tecuhtli", mandatory, lord, defines the upper class in the Aztec social division. They are the military, finance chiefs, and judges that solve the important issues. The ancient emperor of a city that was incorporated into the empire received the rank of "tecuhtli". Aztec gods also often receive this denomination: "Mictlantecuhtli", The lord of the underworld and "Xiuhtecuhtli", the fire god. Aztec priests only exceptionally received this rank, they used to have their own hierarchy. The rank of tecuhtli was acquired by election or by designation within a particular family. An analogy can be made with the feudal lords of the middle ages. Similar to the way it happened in Europe, a rural noble lord had a different category to a noble lord close to the king. In Mexico, the Tecuhtli of an isolated village did not have the same social status as one close to the Tlatoani, the Aztec emperor.
In terms of the social divisions, the Aztec city was divided in Calpullis, or neighborhoods, the calpulli is the basic nucleus of the Aztec social division. Each neighborhood had its own chief or "calpullec", elected by the people and assisted by a group of elder counselors, the "huehueteque". Few things of public interest were done without the approval of the huehueteque. The main task of the calpullec was to keep a record of the collective lands that belonged to the calpulli, these lands were distributed by parcels among the different families. Land was given based on certain labour conditions (i.e. agricultural production based on the type of crops) the calpullec and its counselors were in charge of making sure that these conditions were met by each family.
As I mentioned in the previous article, when the Aztecs arrived to the central valley where Mexico City lies today, they were mainly a tribe of nomadic hunters with a very basic social structure. Every head of the family at that time was a warrior and a farmer. These family heads participated of larger discussions with other family heads. These discussions were the political center of the early Aztec "democracy", and were very much influenced by the Priests of the god "Huitzilopochtli", which had overall authority over most public aspects of the Aztec People.
This primitive structure evolved to give birth to more complex, differentiated social divisions during the XVth century. Priests were no longer involved with military and civil actions, and the influence of commerce had a big impact in the social structure, with traders occupying an important place. One man above all used to shine against all others, the Tlatoani, the Aztec emperor. The tribal democracy had finally given up to an aristocratic Monarchy.
The nahuatl word "tecuhtli", mandatory, lord, defines the upper class in the Aztec social division. They are the military, finance chiefs, and judges that solve the important issues. The ancient emperor of a city that was incorporated into the empire received the rank of "tecuhtli". Aztec gods also often receive this denomination: "Mictlantecuhtli", The lord of the underworld and "Xiuhtecuhtli", the fire god. Aztec priests only exceptionally received this rank, they used to have their own hierarchy. The rank of tecuhtli was acquired by election or by designation within a particular family. An analogy can be made with the feudal lords of the middle ages. Similar to the way it happened in Europe, a rural noble lord had a different category to a noble lord close to the king. In Mexico, the Tecuhtli of an isolated village did not have the same social status as one close to the Tlatoani, the Aztec emperor.
In terms of the social divisions, the Aztec city was divided in Calpullis, or neighborhoods, the calpulli is the basic nucleus of the Aztec social division. Each neighborhood had its own chief or "calpullec", elected by the people and assisted by a group of elder counselors, the "huehueteque". Few things of public interest were done without the approval of the huehueteque. The main task of the calpullec was to keep a record of the collective lands that belonged to the calpulli, these lands were distributed by parcels among the different families. Land was given based on certain labour conditions (i.e. agricultural production based on the type of crops) the calpullec and its counselors were in charge of making sure that these conditions were met by each family.
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