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!
Financial Independence from Flipping Houses: How John Maxim Did It
From wholesaling to property management, vacation rentals, house flipping, mortgage lending, commercial real estate to residential, John Maxim has done it all. He has founded multiple seven-figure businesses including Tree Fort Realty, Rhino Property Management, Savvy...
What Is Compounding? Compound Interest Calculator, Formula & Investments
If you ever hope to reach financial independence and early retirement, you need more than just a high savings rate. You need investments that do the heavy lifting for you. Enter compound interest, A.K.A. compounding returns. But what is compounding? What’s the formula...
How Much Real Estate Should Go in My IRA?
The earlier you want to retire, the more proactive you need to be in funding your post-work life. There are many ways to achieve financial independence for early retirement (FIRE). But many real estate investors wonder how they can put real estate in their IRAs....
Historical Stock Market Return: Average S&P Returns Since 1926
Real estate investors often assume that real estate returns beat stock returns. And it’s often true — check out this study on returns over 145 years in 16 developed countries. But to compare real estate versus stocks, it helps to know the average historical stock...
The Retirement Catch-Up Plan: 7 Steps to Retire in the Next 5-10 Years
As a passive income evangelist, I love this gem from Warren Buffett: “If you don’t find a way to make money in your sleep, you will work until you die.” Everyone loves to talk about what separates the wealthy from the proles, the successful from the wage-slaves, the...
Average Cost of Tiny Homes: Profitable Real Estate Investments?
Inherent in the name, a tiny home is exactly that — tiny (400 square feet or less). But the passive income opportunities that tiny homes offer are anything but. So how much does a tiny home cost? What kind of returns can you earn on tiny homes as a real estate...
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!