Your Gateway to
Private Capital for Real Estate

About Lyon Capital LLC & LeAnn Lyon

Helping You Build a Life and Business You Don’t Need a Vacation From

I’m LeAnn Lyon, founder of Lyon Capital LLC, a private money broker and real estate capital connector, helping investors and pivot-ready professionals fund smarter so they can create real freedom, not just another stressful job.


After years in sales, real estate, entrepreneurship, and supporting burned-out professionals transition to entrepreneurship, I’ve learned this:


When your money, mindset, and moves line up,
you make clearer decisions, take bolder action,
and actually enjoy the life you’re building.

Meet LeAnn

At Lyon Capital, my role is simple: I connect you with smart, flexible private money solutions so you can move quickly and confidently on the right opportunities.


As a certified private money broker and Minnesota-licensed real estate referral agent with eXp Realty, I work with a nationwide network of private lenders and investor-friendly professionals to help you access capital and deals that fit your goals.​

Whether you’re funding a fix-and-flip, expanding a rental portfolio, or exploring your very first investment, you don’t have to figure it out alone.


I’ll help you understand your options in plain English, ask the right questions, and choose a strategy that supports your bigger vision—not just this one deal.

My promise: I will never rush you into something you don’t understand. My job is to help you feel clear, protected, and confident before you ever sign on the dotted line.

Joy Minder

Lyon Capital is one piece of my bigger calling: helping people move from burnout and fear into clarity, joy, and purposeful work.


As Chief Joy Officer and founder of Joy-Minder, I’ve walked alongside professionals who were exhausted by corporate life, worried about job loss, or simply ready for something more meaningful—and many of them found their next chapter through entrepreneurship.

Our proprietary system is called the S.A.I.L.I.N.G System, supporting entrepreneurs from concept to launch to our favorite position: Grow & Go Beyond!

It's at this stage that diversifying your portfolio to potentially include real estate can come into play, and Lyon Capital is here to help.

"Beyond the Business Plan"
Podcast & Summit

I’m also the host of “Beyond the Business Plan; Learn, Laugh & Take the Leap with LeAnn!”, a podcast and show for people who feel that nudge toward something different but want honest, real-world conversations before they jump.


On the show, we talk about everything that doesn’t show up in a spreadsheet:
courage, mindset, faith, failures, do-overs, and the behind-the-scenes stories of building a business and a life you actually like.

Every season concludes with the "Beyond the Business Plan Summit." During the summit, some of my podcast guests are invited back to be featured as Speakers, to pour into you with targeted training. It's pretty amazing, and attendance is completely free.

That same perspective shapes how I show up for my investors and private lenders. I care about the numbers and the terms, but I also care about your energy, your relationships, and the kind of life you want your investments to fund.


Why Investors and Lenders Work With Me

Over the last two (nearly three!) decades, I’ve worn a lot of hats—teacher, President’s Club sales achiever, real estate professional, Black Belt in Taekwondo, and entrepreneur—which means I understand both the discipline and the heart behind big decisions.


A few things my clients appreciate:

Experience you can lean on: 20+ years across sales, real estate, business ownership, and affiliate marketing, so I understand deals from every angle—lender, investor, and entrepreneur.

Clear, simple communication: As a Minnesota-licensed teacher and John Maxwell certified speaker and trainer, I’m skilled at breaking down complex options into simple, actionable choices.

Proven leadership: I’ve led teams and communities as a President’s Club sales performer, President of a Toastmasters club, President and Consulting Director for multiple BNI chapters, and host of the Beyond the Business Plan Summit series.

Whole-human approach: I don’t separate money from mindset, relationships, or purpose. We’ll talk about the deal—and the life you want that deal to support.

Whether you’re doing your first deal or scaling a portfolio, you’ll get the same calm, relational, joy-centered guidance: clear expectations, honest communication, and a focus on long-term partnership over one-time transactions.


Let’s Talk About Your Next Move

If you’re exploring your first investment, already an experienced investor, or wondering whether entrepreneurship might be your next chapter, I’d love to hear your story.


Click below to schedule a conversation, and we’ll look at where you are, where you want to go, and whether private money and real estate investing are the right tools to help you get there.

How May I Help?

Are you an Investor?

Are you a Real Estate Agent listing Investment proprty?

OR just schedule a call with me. I look forward to hearing your goals

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly does a private money broker do?

When you see “Private Money Broker” on my card, it simply means this: I connect real estate investors who need funding with private lenders who want their money to work harder.

Instead of being tied to one bank or one lending company, I work with a network of private lenders—individuals and organizations—who each have their own preferences, strengths, and “appetite” for different kinds of deals. My job is to:

- Listen to your goals, your experience, and the specifics of your deal.

- Help you understand what type of funding might fit best.

- Match you with lenders and loan programs that fit your situation.

- Help both sides understand the terms, timeline, and expectations.

In other words, I’m a connector and a guide. I don’t just introduce you and walk away—I stay in the conversation, help keep the process moving, and work to create a structure that makes sense for both the borrower and the lender.

Who is private money a good fit for?

Private money is usually a great fit for real estate investors and business owners who are working on non‑owner‑occupied, business‑purpose projects. That can include:

- Fix‑and‑flip projects.

- BRRRR‑style investments (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat).

- Single‑family rentals and small multifamily properties.

- Some ground‑up construction or commercial deals, depending on the specifics.

It can be especially helpful if:

- You need to move quickly on a property.

- The property needs work and doesn’t fit traditional lending boxes yet.

- Your situation doesn’t line up perfectly with strict bank guidelines, but the deal itself is strong and you have a clear plan.

If you’re an investor looking for speed, flexibility, and creative options, private money may be a good tool to have in your toolbox.

Who is private money not a good fit for?

Private money is not designed for everything—and that’s important to be honest about up front. It’s usually not a good fit for:

- Primary residences or owner‑occupied homes. If you want to live in the property as your main home, that typically calls for a traditional residential mortgage, not business‑purpose private money.
- Anyone unwilling to be transparent. If someone is not open about their finances, experience, or the true condition of the property, private lending is rarely a good match.

- People looking for “no‑risk, no‑money‑down” magic. Real estate always carries risk. Private money can be a powerful tool, but it still requires skin in the game, realistic numbers, and a real exit strategy.

Looking to find that seed money? Check this out.

If we talk and I realize private money isn’t right for your situation, I’ll tell you that. When possible, I’m happy to point you toward other professionals or resources that might be a better fit.

Looking

How fast can a private money loan close?

One of the big advantages of private and hard‑money style loans is speed, but there are still realistic ranges. You’ll often see:

- Fix‑and‑flip or bridge‑style loans: commonly around 7–10 business days, sometimes a little faster or slower depending on the deal, title, and documents.

- Longer‑term investor loans (like DSCR loans): often in the 3–4 week range, which can still be faster and more flexible than many traditional loans.

Actual timing depends on:

- How quickly you provide documents and information.

- Whether title is clean or there are issues to resolve.

- Whether an appraisal or additional inspections are required.

My role is to set clear expectations, help you stay organized, and work with lenders who can realistically meet the timeline your deal requires.

I’m interested in becoming a private lender. Where do I start?

If you’re curious about becoming a private lender, you’re not alone—many successful professionals and business owners eventually ask how they can put their money to work in real estate without becoming full‑time landlords or flippers.

The best starting point is a conversation. In that first discussion, we’ll talk about:

- How much capital you’re considering using and over what timeframe.

- Your comfort level with risk and what “sleep‑at‑night” looks like for you.

- What kinds of properties or projects interest you (or don’t).

- How hands‑on or hands‑off you’d like to be.

From there, I can help you understand how private lending works, what realistic returns and risks look like, and how deals are typically structured to protect you as the lender. When there’s a good match between your “appetite” and a borrower’s deal, that’s when I can help make an introduction and structure the loan so both sides are clear and comfortable.

You don’t have to have it all figured out before you reach out. Your questions and your goals are the right place to start.

© Savage Lyon Ventures 2025. All rights reserved.

8500 Normandale Lake Blvd, Suite 350, Minneapolis, MN 55437