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!
How Real Estate Investors Can Protect Against Future Eviction Moratoriums
In the last eviction moratorium, some U.S. landlords couldn’t evict non-paying tenants for over two years. That is all but legalized theft. It’s like someone renting a car from Hertz without a credit card, then driving off on a two-year joy ride without paying. First,...
States with Population Growth: State Net Migration & Taxes Comparison
Quick Bites: A state's total "tax burden" includes income tax, property taxes, and sales and excise taxes. There is a correlation between state tax burdens and migration patterns — but it's not a perfect one. Other factors such as real estate affordability and climate...
10 Rental Property Financing Ideas from Professional Real Estate Investors
Leverage. It’s one of the great advantages of real estate over other types of investments. You can finance 80%, 90%, even 100% of your investment. Ever tried doing that with stocks? Good luck finding a lender. The best you can do is buy stocks on margin, and that’s a...
What Is a Landlord Insurance Policy & How Much Coverage Do I Need?
Just like homeowners, landlords need property insurance coverage. Too little coverage leaves you exposed to losses when and if your property suffers damage. But too much landlord insurance coverage is an unnecessary expense each month. Which means you need to strike...
Dollar Cost Average Calculator: How to Use It For Real Estate
The Big Picture On Using A Dollar Cost Average Calculator: Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) involves investing a fixed amount regularly, regardless of market conditions, to mitigate the risks of market volatility. While commonly associated with stocks, DCA can also be...
Passive Income Types: The Best Sources of Passive Income
The Big Picture On Types Of Passive Income Passive income sources like rental properties, stock dividends, and royalties can provide financial stability but often require initial investment and strategic planning to ensure sustainability. Different types of passive...
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!