SparkRental’s Bucks Outside the Box Podcast:
Uncommon Cents for Unconventional Investors
Challenge assumptions. Question the status quo. Build an extraordinary life.
The Latest from SparkRental’s Bucks Outside the Box Podcast:
No Jargon or Fluff: A Real Estate Podcast of Quick Bites!
In 2018, SparkRental cofounders Brian Davis and Deni Supplee started broadcasting live every week to the SparkRental Facebook page and Landlords & Real Estate Investors’ Hub. Eventually they started publishing broadcasts as their Live Off Rents podcast, and eventually started challenging conventional wisdom with their Bucks Outside the Box show.
Today, we still release new episodes every week, interviewing some of the sharpest minds in personal finance, investing, real estate, and financial independence.
We pack a ton of information in concise 5-15 minute episodes. From stock investing strategies to real estate, passive income to active earning, early retirement, active vs. passive real estate investing and beyond, we’ve got you covered.
Most of all, we help you keep the big picture in mind: building the life you want and reaching financial independence.
Happy listening!
Want all the benefits of real estate investing without the headaches?
Learn how to invest passively in group real estate investments.
Every month, our Co-Investing Club vets a new real estate syndication deal. All deals are open to all members (including non-accredited investors).
Our target returns: 15-30%.
Curious? Watch this 86-second video.
Prefer Reading? Check Out Our FIRE & Real Estate Blog!
Why Real Real Estate Is The Best Investment In the AI Era
The Short Version: Data centers now capture 35% of all real estate fundraising. Five years ago? 15%. Microsoft can't find enough power for AI. That scarcity is driving a $450B infrastructure build. Hyperscalers sign 10-20 year leases at 90%+ renewal rates. Try getting...
Morgan Stanley Says 2026 Is Real Estate’s Inflection Point
The Short Version: Morgan Stanley called 2026 "an inflection point." Translation: Wall Street already bought, they're just telling you now. Properties trading 20-25% below peak while retail investors wait for "confirmation." Institutional buyers moved in 6 months ago....
While Bitcoin Lost 40% in 2026, This Real Estate Fund Paid 16% Like Clockwork
The Short Version: Bitcoin lost 50% while one land fund paid 16%—for the 12th quarter straight. "Digital gold" crashed when chaos hit. Actual gold rallied to $6,000/oz. $100K in Bitcoin became $50K. In real estate? $16K/year in cash, every quarter. The wealthy stack...
The Cash Flow Mistake That Cost Me $100,000 (And How to Avoid It)
The Short Version: Most investors calculate cash flow as "rent minus mortgage" — this ignores 50% of actual expenses (vacancy, repairs, CapEx, property management, maintenance) The 50% Rule: expect ~50% of rent to go toward non-mortgage expenses over time — not every...
The Stock Market Indicator That’s Flashing Red (And What Real Estate Investors Know That You Don’t)
The Short Version: The Shiller CAPE ratio just hit 40... the same level it reached right before the dot-com crash wiped out trillions in market value A 145-year academic study found stocks and real estate return almost identical gains, but real estate does it with...
Why Kiyosaki’s 2026 Crash Prediction Makes Real Estate The Obvious Move
The Short Version: Robert Kiyosaki isn't warning about a 2026 crash to scare you... he's explaining exactly what he's buying instead (and it's not gold or cash) The S&P 500 Shiller CAPE ratio just hit levels last seen during the dot-com bubble, but there's one...
Curious about other passive real estate investments?
Check out our comparison chart of Real Estate Crowdfunding Platforms. Our cofounder G. Brian Davis has invested in most of them personally, for firsthand experience. Here’s a quick preview of just a few:
| Concreit | Groundfloor | Fundrise | Ark7 | Lofty | Arrived | Connect Invest | Streitwise | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min. Investment | $1 | $10 | $10 | $20 | $50 | $100 | $500 | $1,000 |
| Investment Format | Pooled Fund of Loans, Fractional Ownership in Rentals | Secured Loans | Pooled Funds & REITs | Fractional Ownership in Rentals | Fractional Ownership in Rentals | Fractional Ownership in Rentals | Short-Term Notes | REIT |
| Real Estate Type | Hard Money Loans & Apartment Buildings | Residential (Short-Term Loans), Notes, Cash Flow Advances | Residential & Commercial | Single-Family Rentals (Long-Term & Airbnb), Multifamily | Single-Family Rentals, Mixed-Use, Commercial | Single-Family Rentals (Long-Term & Airbnb), Multifamily | Secured Residential & Commercial Loans | Commercial Office Buildings |
| Dividend Freq. | Weekly | N/A | Quarterly | Monthly | Daily | Quarterly | Monthly | Quarterly |
| Dividend Yield Last Year | 6.24% (more with referrals) | N/A | 7.70% | Avg. 4.6% | Varies by property | 1.9 - 8.3% (long-term rentals), 1.4 - 5.6% (short-term rentals) | 7.5-9% | 5.1% |
| Total Return Last Year | 6.24% (more with referrals) | Avg. 9.78% | 7.70% (income account); 0.68% (growth account) | Avg. ~8% | Varies by property | Varies by property | 7.5-9% | 5.1% |
| Hold Time w/o Penalty | 1 Year (but no principal penalty) | 2-18 Months | 5 Years | 3 Months | None | 5 Years | 6-24 Months | 5 Years |
| Built-In IRA | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Year Launched | 2018 | 2013 | 2012 | 2019 | 2018 | 2021 | 2015 | 2017 |
| Brian Invests Personally | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not Yet | Yes | Not Yet | Yes |
| Learn More | Concreit | Groundfloor | Fundrise | Ark7 | Lofty | Arrived | Connect Invest | Streitwise |
Is This Podcast for You?
If you don’t want to work forever, it’s for you.
At SparkRental, we’re all about helping you replace your day job income with passive income from investments. Build enough investment income, and your day job becomes optional. You can quit to spend more time with your family, choose a career you’re more passionate about, travel, volunteer full-time.
Or you can keep working your current job if you love it, and build even more wealth.
While we tend to focus on building passive income through rental properties, we know that financial independence and/or retiring early — FIRE — works best with diverse income streams. So yes, we talk about finding motivated sellers, tools like free rental income calculators, finding rental property loans, and property management tips & tricks. But we also explore wider FIRE issues like savings rate, safe withdrawal rates, and how the FIRE lifestyle can save you money in surprising ways.
Most of all, we want to help you think differently about your money, and about lifestyle design: creating your own personal ideal life. Real estate is merely a means to that end!
