RiverGold Financial Services, Inc.

10/07/2026

Late summer is a good time to look beyond trees to create an autumn landscape that draws the eye and stirs the soul

10/04/2026

Halloween ideas!

Cover or store outdoor furniture and grills, and get your home ready for more time spent indoors

10/01/2026

Great idea for Autumn!

Learn how to add a statement piece to your front door with these easy-to-find evergreens

09/29/2026

The Nationwide Home Insurance Crisis Is About Far More Than Monthly Premiums Skyrocketing
Source: Realtor.com

Homeowners have gotten used to hearing bad news about insurance premiums. But a new nationwide analysis suggests rising prices are only part of the problem.

A first-of-its-kind report from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) found that insurer-initiated nonrenewal rates increased between 96% and 216% from 2018 to 2024, depending on the region. In 2024 alone, insurers initiated more than 2 million nonrenewals nationwide.

09/26/2026

Program On California Ballot Could Cut Home Down Payments To 3%
Source: Yahoo! News

California home prices are so high that households in many regions can't even afford a down payment. A proposal going to the state's voters in November would help, proponents say.

Proposition 37, embedded deep in the laundry list of potential policies that Californians will vote on later this year, would allow the state to loan middle-income residents up to 17% of the purchase price of a newly constructed home. Combined with a traditional mortgage, the loan could allow homebuyers to put down as little as 3% on their new home.

09/23/2026

New Federal Rules Could End Mortgage Escrow Interest for Some Homeowners. States are Suing to Block Them
Source: CNBC

A coalition of 10 states, including California, has sued the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency over new federal rules that exempt national banks from state laws requiring interest payments on mortgage escrow accounts. The states argue that the agency exceeded its authority and weakened consumer protections, while the OCC maintains that federal banking law allows federally chartered institutions to determine their own escrow account terms. The outcome could affect whether some homeowners earn interest on funds held for property taxes and insurance.

09/21/2026

Capital Gains Exclusion Bill Draws More Backers in Senate, House
Source: Real Estate News

A bipartisan proposal to increase the capital gains tax exclusion on the sale of a primary residence continues to gain momentum in Congress. The More Homes on the Market Act would raise the exclusion to $500,000 for individual filers and $1 million for married couples filing jointly, while also indexing the amounts for inflation. The bill recently added new co-sponsors in both the House and Senate, bringing total support to 174 lawmakers. Advocates say the measure could encourage more homeowners to sell, potentially increasing housing inventory.

09/19/2026

California Home Sales Pull Back in July as Median Price Slips Below $900,000
Source: Realty Wire

California home sales pulled back in July and the statewide median price slipped below $900,000 for the first time in four months, as mortgage rates that briefly touched a 12-month high weighed on the nation’s largest housing market, the California Association of Realtors reported.

Statewide sales fell to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 263,170 homes in July, down 6.0% from June but still up 1.1% from a year earlier, according to C.A.R.’s July 2026 sales and price report.

09/17/2026

Fannie and Freddie’s New Condo Mortgage Rules Could Mean More Delays and Denials, Experts Say
Source: Realtor.com

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are rolling out a new set of rules aimed at making condos safer. But they come with some extra caveats that would-be condo owners ought to know.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency has enacted a set of rules announced in March that change insurance requirements for condominium buildings and communities. The new rules require more thorough reviews of a condo association's finances, as well as the building's condition.

08/21/2026

US Buyer’s Market Hits its Strongest Point in Years, Redfin Data Shows
Source: Mortgage Professional Magazine

There are nearly half a million more home sellers than buyers in the US housing market — nearly 47 percent more — giving buyers significant negotiating power heading into mid-2026. This is according to Redfin’s May 2026 buyers-versus-sellers report published June 9.

Sellers entering the market hit a six-year high in May, while homebuying demand remained flat. The gap widened slightly from 46.4 percent in April, though it remains below the December 2025 peak of 49.5 percent.