You may want to build wealth through real estate, but the thought of finding deals, managing rehabs, or answering late-night tenant calls feels impossible right now. For many women, especially moms and professionals, the challenge is not a lack of desire. It is a lack of time, clarity, and confidence about where to begin.
That is why private money lending for women can be such a powerful starting point. It gives you a way to participate in real estate without having to run every part of the project yourself.
On the Without Fear Future Podcast, Tresa Todd and Melissa Baker sit down with Shannon Hannon, a mom of three who left a 17-year career in financial services and began building income through passive real estate investing. Shannon did not begin by flipping houses. She began by learning, joining a community, reviewing deals carefully, and lending capital with the right support in place.
Her story is a reminder that you do not have to do real estate the same way as everyone else. You can start with the strategy that fits your current season, values, resources, and goals.
A Corporate Exit Started With One Decision
Two years before this interview, Shannon was deep in a demanding corporate career. She and her husband had spent their working lives in corporate America, and she had recently returned from maternity leave after having her third child.
She loved her work, but she also felt a growing pull toward something different. She wanted more presence with her children and more ownership over her time.
Then both Shannon and her twin sister, Jackie, saw an ad for a WREIN real estate master class. They enrolled together, listened closely, and quickly realized that real estate was not just a faraway dream. It was a skill they could learn.
That first step mattered because real estate investing for busy moms starts with permission to think differently. You do not need to have all the answers before you take the next right step.
Soon after the master class, Shannon set a date on her calendar and resigned from her 17-year career. That choice is personal, and it is not a rule for every investor. You do not have to quit your job to begin investing.
But her decision carries an important lesson: goals need a timeline.
If you are considering real estate, try this:
- Choose one strategy to study this month.
- Set a date to complete your first training.
- Decide who will support and challenge you.
- Create a short list of questions you need answered.
- Take one measurable step before waiting for perfect confidence.
Shannon also had support from her husband, sister, mentor, and investor community. That network helped turn uncertainty into action.
Why Private Lending Fit Her Season
Shannon and her sister chose private money lending because it matched their real lives. They had capital to invest, but little spare time. Shannon was raising three young children, and Jackie had a full-time career.
Instead of starting with a property they had to find, rehab, finance, and manage, they lent funds to active investors who were running the deals.
This is a form of passive real estate investing. The investor supplying funds still has work to do, especially before funding. But she is not responsible for daily project management, construction decisions, or tenant issues.
Shannon’s first lending opportunity came through the WREIN community. An investor had connected with a homeowner facing foreclosure in New Jersey. The investor team did more than make an offer. They listened to the homeowner, learned about his health challenges, helped him find an apartment, helped move him out, and treated him with dignity.
That made the deal about more than money.
Shannon funded the project through a self-directed IRA after evaluating the opportunity and its protections. Her first deal showed her that investing can create financial returns while helping solve real problems for people.
Private lending is not automatically safe or passive in the sense of effortless. A lender still needs to understand the deal, the borrower, the exit plan, and the documents. But for women who want real estate exposure without managing properties directly, it can be a practical entry point.
Due Diligence Protects Your Capital
Shannon’s story is encouraging because she did not simply wire money and hope for the best. She used mentorship, legal support, and structured documents to make informed decisions.
That is the heart of real estate private lending due diligence.
Before funding her first deal, Shannon worked through the opportunity with her mentor. She did not expect her mentor to hand her the answers. Instead, she learned how to examine risk and decide whether the risk level fit her comfort zone.
She also took steps to protect the loan:
- She had promissory notes prepared.
- She worked with an attorney.
- She secured lien position.
- She reviewed the deal’s legal structure.
- She considered the investor team and the property’s plan.
- She asked whether the return matched the risk.
Every private loan is different. Returns are never guaranteed, and real estate investments can lose value or take longer than expected. A qualified attorney, CPA, financial professional, and self-directed IRA custodian can help investors understand the rules that apply to their individual situation.
Shannon also learned the importance of proper setup when lending in different states. She has completed deals across multiple markets, including New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Arizona. Her advice is practical: locate qualified legal support in the states where you invest and make sure your documents and protections fit that location.
Using a Self-Directed IRA With Intention
One important part of Shannon’s strategy is self-directed IRA real estate investing. She used a self-directed IRA to fund private lending opportunities, which allowed her retirement funds to participate in real estate.
A self-directed IRA can hold alternative investments that many traditional brokerage IRAs do not offer, including certain real estate-related investments. In Shannon’s case, the funds and earnings had to remain inside the IRA.
That distinction matters. When money is invested through an IRA, you generally cannot use the profits personally until the account’s distribution rules allow it. Shannon explained that this is one reason she and her sister also want to pursue active deals using non-retirement funds.
Her portfolio has grown steadily. Shannon shared that she earned approximately $57,000 from lending deals in 2024 and approximately $107,000 in 2025. Those are Shannon’s personal results, not promised outcomes. They reflect her specific capital, deal terms, timing, risk decisions, and investor relationships.
The bigger takeaway is that she did not wait until she could do every type of real estate deal. She began with one strategy, built experience, and used each success to prepare for the next.
Now, Shannon plans to continue lending while moving toward active projects such as flips and short-term rentals. That is what intentional growth looks like: expand only after your knowledge, team, and systems are ready.
Key Takeaways
- Private money lending for women can be a practical real estate entry strategy for those with capital and limited time.
- You do not have to quit your job to begin learning about real estate.
- Set a real deadline for your first training, deal review, or investing goal.
- Start with a strategy that fits your current season of life.
- Passive real estate investing still requires research, risk assessment, and qualified support.
- Use legal documents and appropriate lien protections before funding a loan.
- Work with qualified professionals for legal, tax, retirement-account, and investment guidance.
- A self-directed IRA may provide access to alternative investments, but its income and expenses remain within the account.
- Invest with compassion; the best real estate solutions can help both the investor and the person behind the property.
- Build a community of mentors and peers before making major investing decisions.
Private Money Lending for Women: Frequently Asked Questions
What is private money lending for women and how does it support passive real estate investing?
Private money lending for women means lending capital to an active real estate investor under documented loan terms. Shannon Hannon used this strategy to participate in real estate while avoiding the day-to-day work of managing properties.
How did Shannon use self-directed IRA real estate investing for private money lending?
Shannon funded lending opportunities through a self-directed IRA, allowing her retirement funds to participate in qualifying real estate deals. She noted that earnings from those investments remain in the IRA under its account rules.
What does real estate private lending due diligence include for private money lending for women?
Real estate private lending due diligence includes reviewing the deal, understanding the risk, documenting the loan, and using qualified legal support. Shannon used promissory notes, lien position, attorney guidance, and mentorship before funding deals.
Can real estate investing for busy moms begin with passive real estate investing?
Yes. Shannon began private lending while raising three young children because it fit her available capital and limited time. She completed due diligence first, then allowed active investors to oversee the property projects.
How can I start private money lending for women with a stronger real estate investing mindset?
Start by learning one strategy, reviewing deals with an experienced mentor, and building a team that includes qualified legal and financial professionals. Shannon’s story shows that informed action and risk awareness are more useful than waiting for perfect confidence.
