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!
Best Real Estate Blogs Today: Learn to Invest in Real Estate for Free
The Big Picture On The Best Real Estate Investing Blogs: Real estate blogs can be an excellent source of information about the industry. These blogs cover various topics, including property management, market trends, and investment strategies. Many blogs offer expert...
DSCR Loan Pros and Cons For Successful Real Estate Investing
The Big Picture On DSCR Loan Pros and Cons: DSCR loans focus on the rental property’s income rather than the borrower’s income, making them ideal for self-employed investors or those with multiple properties. DSCR loans offer advantages like faster approval processes,...
Kiddie Condo Loans: How to Use the FHA to Buy Rental Properties with 3.5% Down
The Big Picture On FHA's Kiddie Condo Loans: The FHA "Kiddie Condo" loans program allows for a down payment as low as 3.5%, making it an affordable option for parents co-signing a mortgage with their adult children. Parents can buy a property with their child, who...
Alternative Housing & Green Housing: How to Save Money & Travel
The Big Picture On Alternative Housing: Various non-traditional housing alternatives like tiny houses, RV living, and house hacking with accessory dwelling units (ADUs) can help you save money and embrace a more flexible lifestyle. Many of the alternative housing...
How Much Can a Landlord Charge for Cleaning? Rules for Tenant Cleaning Fees
The Big Picture On How Much Can A Landlord Charge For Cleaning: Landlords can typically charge between $150 and $600 for cleaning, equating to an hourly rate of $50 to $100, depending on factors like unit size, tenant duration, and cleaning requirements. Landlords...
IRR Calculator Online: Calculate Internal Rate of Return in Real Estate
The Big Picture on Our Online Real Estate IRR Calculator: Internal rate of return (IRR) measures the annual growth rate of an investment, considering both cash flow and capital gains over the holding period. Real estate investors use IRR to compare multi-year...
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!
