The Big Picture on Car Washes As Investments: Modern express car washes can generate 5–12% returns with minimal staffing and high automation. Car washes perform well during downturns as people maintain existing vehicles instead of upgrading. Accelerated and bonus...
G. Brian Davis
Brian Davis is a real estate investor and personal finance writer with over two decades in the real estate and finance industries. After graduating from University of Delaware in 2003 with two useless B.A. degrees and an even more useless minor in anthropology, he fell headfirst into real estate finance by accident.
Then he promptly went on a property buying spree from 2005-2008. It was what you might call a “learning experience,” all of the lessons expensive.
Eventually, Brian tired of landlording and unloaded his own portfolio of rental properties. But he still loved real estate as an investment, and today he owns fractional shares in over 2,000 units.
The difference? Nowadays he only invests passively in real estate.
Along with his wife and daughter, Brian spends most of the year abroad living by his own rules. He loves hiking, cooking, pairing wine with said cooking, scuba diving, and occasionally surfing (badly). And writing: he writes as a real estate and personal finance expert for Inman, BiggerPockets, R.E.tipster and dozens of other publishers.
Most of all, Brian loves showing others how they too can create their ideal lives through real estate investing and lifestyle design.
The Middle-Class Works for Wages; The Rich Work for Profits
The Big Picture on Wages vs. Profits: Trading time for money limits income and freedom, but shifting to profit-based models enables exponential wealth growth. Entrepreneurs can build leverage through people, products, and capital to earn more without working more...
Airbnb House Hacking: From Free Travel to an Empire of Airbnbs
The Big Picture on Airbnb House Hacking: Mike Cossette and his wife started by renting out their home during peak events to pay for travel — a move that sparked a cycle of income and inspiration, eventually leading to a portfolio of five properties. After being...
5 Weird Ways to Make Extra Money with Side Hustle Nation’s Nick Loper
The Big Picture on Weird Side Hustles: From typing poems in the park to fighting robocallers, the most unexpected ideas can generate serious income. Skills in mechanics, interior design, or legal knowledge can find surprising demand on the right platforms or social...
“Honey, I Bought an Island Over the Phone”
The Big Picture on How Three Friend Bought An Island: A spontaneous idea fueled by curiosity and drinks led three friends to buy a $60K private island in Florida, sight unseen. With no utilities or infrastructure, the team explored off-grid concepts like container...
Do “Unsexy” Investments Perform Best? Mobile Home Parks with Jordan Moorhead
The Big Picture on Boring, "Unsexy" Investments: With fewer than 50,000 parks and growing development restrictions, mobile home parks gain value over time and presents a ripe investment opportunity. Tenants in mobile homes rarely move due to high relocation costs,...
Does Asset Protection Work? How to Cover Your Ass(ets)
The Big Picture on Asset Protection: Never hold investment properties in your personal name. Use land trusts for anonymity and LLCs or holding companies for liability protection—especially in states like Wyoming or Delaware. Create a separate property management...
Budgeting Is Dead (Do This Instead)
The Big Picture on How Budgeting Works Today: Traditional budgeting often leads to burnout. Instead, focus on building a mindful relationship with money and spending aligned with your values. Whitney Elkins-Hutton categorizes spending into destructive, protective,...
Are Self-Directed IRAs Worth the Fees?
The Big Picture on Self-Directed IRAs: A self-directed IRA lets you invest in non-traditional assets like real estate, private businesses, and cryptocurrency—offering broader diversification than a standard IRA. While SDIRAs offer flexibility, they come with strict...
Landlording Sucks & Rental Income Isn’t Passive — Do This Instead
The Big (And Real) Picture on Being A Landlord: Despite popular belief, owning rental properties requires significant time and effort. Michael Raki, with over $300 million in real estate transactions, highlights that landlording involves deal sourcing, financing,...