Meet Brandon Wielenga — 15 years in property insurance claims, now helping homeowners think clearly about the problems other buyers run from.
River Capital LLC is a real estate solutions company that helps homeowners work through distressed and problem properties. It's privately owned and owner-operated — when you reach out, you talk to a decision-maker, not a call center.
I'm Brandon Wielenga. I own River Capital LLC, and when you call, you're talking to me.
Before this, I spent 15 years in property insurance claims — first taking the calls, then managing the team that took them. When somebody's basement flooded at midnight or a storm took the roof off, I was the person on the other end of the line. I took the new claims, worked the existing ones, and spent a decade and a half talking with people on what was usually the worst week of their year.
The same situation kept coming up. Someone falls behind on the mortgage. Or there's damage that never got repaired — years of wear and tear, or a contractor who took the money and walked off before finishing. Now the house won't pass an inspection, so it can't sell on the open market. And there's no money for the repairs, because if there were, the repairs would already be done.
Those homeowners weren't careless. They were stuck. And handling the claim only went so far — it didn't solve the bigger problem sitting in front of them. That's the gap I started River Capital to work in.
Not long ago I talked with a man in Florida who had no idea his house was headed for a tax sale. He hadn't been ignoring it — he genuinely didn't know it was happening.
I could have made him an offer. Instead I told him to call the county and ask exactly what he owed. He did. He paid off the tax bill and kept his house.
I didn't make a dollar on that conversation, and it's still the one I'd point to if you want to know how I work. Most companies in this business present exactly one path — selling to them — because that's the only path they get paid on. I'd rather give you the honest answer and be the person you call the next time something comes up.
So when we talk, I'll walk you through what's actually available to you: listing on the market, a workout with your lender, a legal or title remedy, or selling directly to me. If selling to me isn't your best move, I'll say so and point you toward who can help.
I grew up in Northwest Iowa, spent 12 years in Phoenix, and moved back to this part of the country two years ago. I'm based in Sioux Falls now.
I won't claim to be a lifelong local — but this is the region I'm from, and it's why Sioux Falls and Sioux City are home markets rather than dots on a map.
I'll be straight with you about size: this is a young company. I'm not going to pretend to a portfolio I don't have.
What I do bring is 15 years of talking people through complicated, stressful property situations — plus the willingness to tell you when the answer isn't a cash sale. If you'd rather work with someone who has closed hundreds of deals, I understand that completely. If you'd rather talk to the person who'll actually be handling your file, that's me.
Whether the property is down the street or in another state, if it comes with complications, I'd like to help you sort out the best path forward.