-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LEn/c+9Gr3bHKGmfN/MeSaC3fvQCEOaaYtVAhfzw1vU1biNVDAUBYd4u3pTcAy/T
 iCPN7fuCcw4nCxPB4VhOPw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-05-016619.txt : 20050818
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-05-016619.hdr.sgml : 20050818
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050818113650
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-05-016619
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050817
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050818
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050818

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SPIRIT FINANCE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001277406
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				200175773

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		14631 N. SCOTTSDALE ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			SCOTTSDALE
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85254
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4806060820

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		14631 N. SCOTTSDALE ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			SCOTTSDALE
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85254

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Bennett Michael T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001327006

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-32386
		FILM NUMBER:		051035056

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(480) 606-0820

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		14631 N. SCOTTSDALE ROAD, SUITE 200
		CITY:			SCOTTSDALE
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85254
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-08-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001277406</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SPIRIT FINANCE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SFC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001327006</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Bennett Michael T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>14631 N SCOTTSDALE RD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SCOTTSDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>85254</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP-Op/CCO/Sec</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-08-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.24</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>22500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael T. Bennett</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-08-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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