Nina Semczuk
Mortgage, Home Buying, Savings and Retirement Expert
Nina Semczuk is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance® (CEPF®) and a member of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing. She helps makes personal finance accessible. Nina started her path toward financial literacy at fourteen after filling out her first W-4 and earning her first paycheck. Since then, she's navigated the world of mortgages, VA loans, Roth IRAs and the tax consequences of changing states or countries at least once a year. Nina specializes in mortgage, savings and retirement education. Nina is a graduate of Boston University and served as an officer in the military for five years. Find her work on The Muse, Business Insider, Fast Company, Forbes and around the web.
Posts by Nina Semczuk:
Buying a foreclosed home is one way potential homeowners can save a bit of money — a foreclosed home is likely to be selling for cheaper than other homes on the market, so you may be able to get a good deal and keep your mortgage payments generally low. While there are a few things you should know about buying a foreclosed home, for the most part the process is very similar to buying any other property. For help on working a foreclosure purchase into your budget and other financial questions, consider working with a financial advisor. Read more
A mortgage broker is a third party who helps potential homebuyers get the best possible rate when securing a loan to buy a home. Instead of going to each lender for a rate quote yourself, a mortgage broker does the legwork for you. Brokers generally receive compensation from the lender you end up working with or from fees you pay. If you decide to go with a particular mortgage broker, always be sure to calculate your prospective mortgage costs to have a full understanding of what it could run you. For help with home buying and other financial issues, consider working with a financial advisor. Read more
When you’re counting down to retirement, it’s easy to get caught up in fantasies of your future work-free life. Maybe it’s RV trips to Florida, days on the golf course or quality time spent with family. Whatever your dream retirement looks like, you can be sure you’ll need money to fund it. Unfortunately, if you’re like most Americans, you don’t have nearly enough saved for retirement. But you can help change that with a few key fixes. Read on to find out how with these five easy tips. Read more
In late December, President Trump signed sweeping tax legislation into law. Under the new law, taxpayers can only deduct $10,000 in combined property taxes and other state and local taxes (SALT) from… Read more
Veterans who want to take out a mortgage backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs must prove that they qualify for the home loan program. There are certain requirements to meet as well as… Read more
There are three main ways to maximize your tax return: You can file your taxes on your own to save on tax preparation fees, you can work with a financial advisor to develop a tax strategy for your… Read more
Filing taxes yourself has never been easier. As long as you have internet access, you can submit your tax return from the comfort of your couch. Before you get started, however, you’ll have to choose… Read more
The holiday season is a time for celebration. And with most celebrations, you usually find yourself opening your wallet again and again. This can put a strain on your budget and put a damper on… Read more
Start with giving yourself a pat on the back. Whether you saved $50,000 by diligently setting aside a portion of your paycheck, or you came into money through an inheritance, you now have a tidy sum… Read more
One of the most attractive features of a 401(k) plan is that you can contribute pre-tax dollars throughout your career. This reduces your taxable income and allows you to contribute more to your… Read more
Money management is a tricky subject. For many, the topic’s accompanied with a feeling of apprehension. Maybe you’ve put off saving for retirement for a bit too long. Or, perhaps you’re worried about… Read more
Starting early with college savings is a smart choice. With the price of higher education rising each year, the sooner you start, the better chance you’ll have of helping make a dent in those costs.… Read more
Inheriting an IRA, whether a traditional or Roth account, comes with certain responsibilities. The rules for an inherited IRA depend on the specifics of your situation, as well as the deceased’s age… Read more
Everyone has an opinion on how you should budget. From experts touting the latest app for online money management to bloggers giving personal perspectives on cash-only lifestyles, you won’t find a… Read more
If you’re in the process of buying a home, you may have heard the term “deed of trust.” Depending on what state you live in, this may have come up more frequently than it would in other places. But… Read more
Whether you’re buying a house for yourself or as an investment, one factor to consider is the long-term value of the home. Housing market growth is a way to determine if you’ll get a return for your… Read more
Summer memories wouldn’t be complete for many Americans without tractor pulls, fried dough and live music with friends and family. Each year millions of attendees celebrate the end of summer and the… Read more
Almost 10 years past America’s most recent financial crisis, you can still hear the term in the news. Whether it’s in regards to recovering from one, or the impending onset of another, it’s a phrase… Read more
