July 30, 2021

8327 Views

How to Maximize Your Housing Stipend as a Travel Nurse

Posted on July 30, 2021July 20, 2021 by Medely

This article was provided by Medely.

Travel Nursing requires a hands-on and versatile approach to your nursing practice, but even more so, your entire life. To maximize earning potential, you can use your non-taxable stipends to help you make more take-home cash. Chief among these is the housing stipend, meant to help find lodging when traveling and working at a facility away from home.

And, there are several ways to save cash and maximize your housing stipend as a Travel Nurse or Allied Healthcare Professional.

What is a housing stipend?

So what is a housing stipend, and how does it work? Travel Nurses typically have two options when it comes to housing. They can either accept agency-provided housing, if available or a housing stipend and find accommodation independently.

When looking at the housing stipend, there are a few different ways to get paid.

Monthly rate
- If you’re offered a monthly rate, your housing stipend is allotted each week based on the length of your assignment. The only concern with monthly rates is when you’re paying rent for longer than an assignment lasts. For example, if you have a two-week job, you will only be paid for those two weeks, which may not cover the entire month’s worth of rent.
Stipends paid out in bi-weekly paychecks
- It’s essential to have enough money out of pocket to start living through a stipend. Because your stipend is typically paid out bi-weekly, you may be expected to cover the initial deposit and first month of rent before receiving your first paycheck.
Tax-free housing allocation
- One of the most significant ways you can save big on your housing stipend is that it will be entirely tax-free if you have a valid tax home and are far away enough from that tax home when traveling.
Amounts vary
- Stipend amounts vary, and it’s essential to look at the fine print on many of these contracts. Some agencies will pay very high stipends but offer lower hourly rates for your work, and prices will vary, of course, depending on where you’re living and the local housing markets in those regions.

On top of these crucial points, you should look out for perks like included utilities or fully furnished accommodations when assessing a contract.

Tips to maximize your Travel Nursing stipend

There are many different ways to maximize your Travel Nursing housing stipend. Below are several tips to help bolster your earnings and make your nursing housing stipend go the distance.

Short-term housing, utilities included and furnished
- It’s important to remember that some assignments may be as short as a few weeks and as long as three months or more. With this in mind, life will be that much easier if you find fully furnished housing that includes utilities in the rent and doesn’t have exorbitant premiums on short-term leasing.
Rentals/sublets
- If your nursing assignment is for more than six months, you will likely find traditional rentals through apartments, condos, townhomes, and so on. If you have a shorter contract, however, things like Airbnb, HomeAway, and VRBO, among others, have made it easier to find short-term housing.
Extended hotel stays
- Extended hotel stays can be a good option if space isn’t a priority for you. Depending on the area you’re in, finding fully-furnished housing that includes utilities might be challenging. An extended hotel stay could make things a lot easier. Be sure to keep an eye out for hotels that offer special deals for extended stays.
RVs
- While these might not be for everyone, RVs are a very convenient and cheap solution that can be a lot of fun! RV parks and campsites are a lot cheaper than monthly rent, and the convenience of being able to pack and move on at a moment’s notice is a massive appeal to the RV route.
Roommates
- Finding a roommate as you go from place to place is a great way to mitigate many of the challenges that come with travel nursing. Aside from your bedroom, the apartment will already be fully furnished, and utilities will be included in your rent. Living with a roommate is also typically much cheaper than living alone, so you will save costs on that end as well.
Friends/family
- Reach out to your friends and family members across the country. Living with a friend or family member for a short period is a great way to reunite with loved ones and save costs at the same time.
House sitting
- House sitting almost sounds too good to be true. To live and watch over someone’s house and possibly their pets and plants, you may not have to pay a single dime and may even earn a little cash for your efforts. TrustedHousesitters, HouseSittersAmerica, MindMyHouse are just a few options for house sitting apps you could utilize.

Whichever option you choose, know that there are a plethora of ways to maximize your stipend and save on housing costs. While it might require a little bit of research and effort, you could make significant earnings on your housing stipend over time and create your travel nursing experiences as cost-effective as they are liberating.

Medely

With Medely, your next nursing job is only a tap away. Travel nursing opportunities are brought directly to your phone, so you have the control to create your schedule based on your travel needs.

Medley delivers premium pay, maxed out travel stipends, and the ability to book per diem shifts while on an assignment so you can maximize your earnings.

Freedom, flexibility, and support come standard. Be where you want to be when you want to be there with Medely today.

Are you a travel nurse looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you have your next assignment secured but need housing? Click here to view our housing page.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Annie Rueb

July 19, 2021

9175 Views

RV Living as a Family and How it Relates to Travel Nursing

Posted on July 19, 2021January 16, 2023 by Annie Rueb

There are a lot of housing choices when it comes to travel nursing. Do you take housing from your company? Do you find your housing? Is it an entire house or a room in a shared home? Do you travel in an RV? Do you have pets? Kids? Or are you like us and have both? As a traveling family, we feel like RV living is the best choice. We love having a consistent home, not having to pack/unpack our things every 3 months, and financially it saves us a ton of money. However, it does come with its challenges, and we’ve had to learn ways to navigate those as it comes.

It is always a really exciting time when we are ready to sign our next contract. Because we travel as a family in an RV, we have to take some extra steps before we can do that. As soon as we apply for a position, our search for an RV resort begins. Most of our research is preliminary, so we know if we can accept a position if we get an offer.

When we contact an RV resort, this is how it goes (and yes, they want all of this information):

“Dear, excellent RV resort of our choice,

We are a traveling nurse family in a 39ft Class A Motorhome that I have photos of attached to this email. We tow a 16ft flatbed trailer with one vehicle on it. We travel with our 2 kids (ages 7 and 9) and our 2 dogs (very friendly Vizslas). We are looking to take a nursing contract at (hospital name) from (date to date). We are writing to inquire about your availability and monthly rates.

Thank you so much for your time….”

This can get exhausting, especially if you are trying to go to a destination city anywhere near their peak season. For example, when traveling to Maine for the summer, almost every single RV resort was fully booked for the entire summer. Luckily the management team at the hospital had a place they highly recommended, and everything worked out well. Likely, you are not the first travel nurse to come to the area in an RV, and the hospital will most often have great ideas for you. But if there isn’t an available place, you have to let those offers go.

Not all RV parks are created equally.

Some parks are full of incredibly kind people that are very welcoming to travel nurses, and some are not. Most parks understand that nurses are thoroughly vetted and love having you there; some make you pay for and complete very lengthy background checks. Some parks fully welcome children and dogs, and some do not and might even have extra fees associated with them. Some parks have incredible amenities like big, working laundry facilities, recreational facilities like game rooms, gyms, playgrounds, pools, lakes, dog parks, nice open spaces, high-speed internet, security, and needed utilities included in your rate. Some parks don’t have any or many of these types of amenities. We have learned to ask a lot of questions, read reviews, and get a feel for the park before committing to it.

Aside from one, every RV park we have chosen has been very safe, fun, and welcoming. But this is an extremely important factor that plays a role in whether or not we can even accept a travel contract. We have to have a safe home for the family.

Living in the RV itself is not for everyone.

We have adapted well to our tiny living space. We gave our children the back bedroom. This may feel like a big sacrifice, but it is so nice to give them their own space for their own things and have a place where they can go to bed at night that isn’t in the middle of the living room. When anyone gets up early to work, the kids aren’t disturbed. When it’s bedtime, they can go to bed, and we don’t feel like we have to as well. We transform the living room every night into our bedroom suite, and it works for us. But that is the point; if you chose to live in an RV, you have to be open to tiny living and open to adapting it to what works best for you and your travel companions.

Let’s quickly talk about finances.

We bought a used motorhome (20 years used to be exact). We did this so we could have a modest car payment instead of a small mortgage. As travel nurses, we were able to pay this off quickly. Since we purchased an already depreciated vehicle, we will not lose much money on its value annually. So, we have a paid-off vehicle that will be worth something when we are finished. We have paid anywhere from $600-$1000 a month, including utilities, for a spot at an RV resort. This is a fraction of what we would pay for a furnished home/apartment that is large enough for the family and accepts pets. We’ve looked into this from time to time and are always blown away by the monthly rates. So overall, this makes sense for us on a financial level as well.

The best part about it though is that it is home.

Decorated and designed to our liking. When it’s time to go, we throw a few things in some cabinets, and we hit the road. When we get there, we pick up right where we left off. It keeps us warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and plenty comfortable on a day-to-day basis. We love the time we get to spend outdoors and immerse ourselves in the nature around us. We meet wonderful people in RV parks. Quite often, there are other traveling families moving their way through the country for a variety of reasons, and the kids get to socialize a lot. One time, we even got lucky enough to meet another traveling nurse family, and we were all instant friends.

Overall, RV living was the best choice for us. We couldn’t recommend it more, especially to any of you out there traveling as a family. Safe travels!

To follow Annie and her family’s travel nurse adventures click here to check out our travel nursing with family articles.

Are you looking for your next great adventure as a travel nurse? Click here to view our job board.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By The Gypsy Nurse

June 26, 2021

13526 Views

Tips For Reducing Housing Costs on Your Next Travel Nurse Assignment

Posted on June 26, 2021November 10, 2023 by The Gypsy Nurse

Hey Gypsies – we all know that several different factors can make a huge difference in a travel nursing assignment’s success. One of the major ones is how you approach housing and housing options. Travel Nurse Housing Costs can be a major financial factor. Most agencies will provide you with a few housing options, and you will need to figure out what’s best for your and your unique situation. Cost is always a factor in the travel nursing housing equation, so we’ve pulled together these 4 tips for reducing housing costs on your next travel nursing assignment.

Opt for a housing stipend

Unless you’re completely new to travel nursing, you may want to consider taking the housing stipend over agency-provided housing strongly. Agencies may choose pricier accommodations for nurses to uphold a quality reputation. But with the flexibility of a housing stipend, you can choose your price point and pocket the difference. This also allows you to set the duration of your stay. Many agencies will match your move-in and move-out dates to the dates of your assignment. With a stipend, you can move-in early or extend your stay if you want to stay longer.

Beyond savings, picking your own housing lets you select which part of town you want to experience and which housing amenities matter most to your lifestyle. You may be able to lower your travel nurse Housing Costs by cutting out conveniences you don’t care about.

Save yourself from the hassle of coordinating a U-Haul rental and moving your needed belongings to each new city. The average travel nurse assignment is 13 weeks, but it can be as short as 4 or 5 weeks. The easiest solution is to rent furnishings and housewares — or find housing with these included.

The price of renting might initially dissuade you, but the potential long-term savings pay off. This option allows you to avoid the risk of damaging any of your valuable furniture or personal possessions. You won’t have to spend time and effort on renting a van and scheduling movers. You also don’t have to worry about your existing items fitting into every space you rent. Every apartment or house you rent has its own available space and room dimensions. Leave that coordination to the professionals and cut your travel nurse housing costs.

Plan to cook your meals at home.

It seems like a small choice to make, but this can have a huge impact over the course of your assignment. Eating out is both expensive and unhealthy in comparison to preparing your meals at home. When dining out, the average meal costs $12.75 in the U.S. That’s more than $1,000 a month!

Plus, cooking food in your own kitchen can make you feel more at home while you’re living in a new place. When you’re choosing housing for your next assignment, make sure it comes with a full-sized kitchen, or at least a kitchenette, with the necessary kitchenware to be your own chef.

Especially with rapid response and crisis assignments, sometimes you need to find housing fast. But travel nurses always need to be aware of sketchy rental situations as, unfortunately, there are some housing scams out there. Stay diligent in vetting every agreement before you sign a lease.
Some common red flags to watch out for include:

Any price that seems too good to be true.
A property manager who communicates with you only via email.
A landlord who doesn’t ask for any background info.
A landlord or property manager who says they’re in another country and wants money wired to them.

The easiest way to avoid these scams is to rely on a trusted temporary housing provider or your agency to find and secure your housing. Work with housing experts who have access to an inventory of trusted, vetted properties. You won’t have to stress or do any of the work to find quality housing that you can trust.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Megan Hutcherson

June 23, 2021

11288 Views

RV Living as a Travel Nurse

Posted on June 23, 2021May 20, 2021 by Megan Hutcherson

Imagine not having to worry about packing up your entire life and finding a furnished apartment every three months. This is just one of the many reasons why vans and RVs are growing in popularity with the travel nurse community. Having a home on wheels helps to remove much of the stress associated with traveling so you can enjoy your time off. So what do you need to know if you are considering RV Living?

RV Living: Housing Tips for Travel Nurse

Choosing your rig:

Based on your needs, there are several options for nomadic homes, including busses, vans, RVs, and travel trailers. A great way to determine which is best for you is by trying it out for yourself temporarily. Some companies allow you to rent a van or RV for a few days. This can give you a feel of which option would work for your lifestyle and how much room you may need. Here are a few things to consider when choosing your home on wheels: how many people are in your household? Do you have pets? What are the necessities you can’t live without?

Downsizing:

If you’ve been travel nursing for a while, you’re probably already used to traveling with a lighter load but travel nursing while living in a condensed space requires the belongings you travel with to become even lighter. When deciding what you will fill your home on wheels with, it is important to determine your wants versus needs. Look at your items and ask yourself if it is something you will use frequently or if it will sit in a corner and take up precious space.

Parking accommodations:

When starting a new assignment, you will need to ensure that the location will fit your parking needs. Parking may vary based on the size and type of your home. For example, if you have an RV that requires electrical and water hookups, you will need to make sure there is an RV park near your hospital. If you have a van that runs off solar power, you may choose to seek out free parking in your area. Some free parking options include the hospital you are working at (it is always best to check in with security and ask where to park. Most hospitals are happy to have you stay there), national forests, BLM land, truck stops, street parking in local neighborhoods, chain stores like Walmart, Cracker Barrel, Cabelas (it is always good to call ahead to ask permission first).

Temperature and Climate:

When choosing an assignment location, consider the season that you will be in for the duration of the contract. Research the average high and low temperatures in that area and be compatible with the climate control that you have inside your rig. With extreme temperatures, whether it be 120 degrees in the desert or single digits in the mountains, living conditions can become very uncomfortable without proper planning. One of the perks of travel nursing is having a say when you take your assignments, so be sure to think about this when deciding on your location.

Security:

One downside to living in your vehicle is having all of your valuables in your rig. This can be stressful when working twelve-hour shifts and being away from your vehicle for that long period of time. Taking extra measures to secure your home on wheels can alleviate some of that stress and give you peace of mind when you are away. Some ways to add extra security measures include installing extra locks on the inside of your vehicle, security cameras, keeping valuables out of sight, having a lockbox hidden to store important documents or valuables. One of the most important steps you can take is being aware of your surroundings and if something feels off, listen to your gut. Making the jump into living in a home on wheels while travel nursing can be a beneficial decision in so many different ways. Although this way of life isn’t always for everyone, those who decide to adopt nomadic living usually don’t regret it. If this is something, you find yourself considering but still have some reservations about it, again, seek out one of the vans or RV rental companies and give it a try for a weekend. It’s always best to be confident before pulling the trigger rather than diving in and then realizing maybe this lifestyle isn’t exactly what you had in mind.

We hope you found these tips for RV living helpful. Are you currently or have you used a van or RV for housing during a travel nurse assignment? Do you have any tips for RV living to share? Comment them below.

By Furnished Finder

June 21, 2021

13237 Views

In-Depth Tenant Background Checks: Screening and Comprehensive Reports

Posted on June 21, 2021December 18, 2023 by Furnished Finder

Once you land a travel nurse job, your attention then shifts to finding a monthly furnished rental. The Gypsy Nurse recommends our partner Furnished Finder for housing, but of course, many travelers look on vacation rental sites as well.

While vacation rental sites may allow you to skip a tenant screening report sometimes, they can be much more expensive because they are catering to vacation-goers. Furnished Finder, on the other hand, doesn’t charge booking fees for their monthly rentals saving travelers hundreds of dollars, but landlords will most likely require a tenant screening report.

What’s the difference between a background check and a tenant screening report?

An employment background check gives the employer criminal, educational, and identity data on the applicant. At the same time, a tenant screening report provides more detailed information relating to your credit, payments, and eviction history.

Hospital-mandated background checks are more of a formality that ultimately protects the hospital. Still, some travel nurses think that since they passed an employment background check when they got hired, they don’t have to complete a tenant screening report from their new landlord. This is false, as they are entirely different.

Can I refuse to complete a tenant screening requested by my landlord?

Yes, of course. However, you will most likely have to find alternative housing, like a vacation rental or a hotel which can be much more expensive.

Simply put, landlords need more information on their tenants than a background check can provide. If a travel nurse were to refuse to complete a tenant screening report, then they may be automatically eliminating themselves from the majority of monthly furnished rentals forcing them to stay in higher-priced short-term accommodations like hotels or vacation rentals.

Do tenant screening reports hurt my credit?

Only hard inquiries harm your credit (such as when you’re buying a car or applying for a mortgage). “Soft-Pull” reports have absolutely no effect on your credit score and do not even show up as an inquiry on your credit report.

Tenant screening reports, such as the ones provided through KeyCheck and other online screening sites, do not harm your credit because they use the popular “Soft-Pull” technique.

Soft pulls are viewed by the credit bureaus as you pulling your own credit report and then essentially sharing it with your landlord. Since a person can view their own credit report without penalty, soft-pull reports bypass the harmful effects of a conventional credit check.

Just like travelers want to be safe and protected when they travel for work, landlords also want to protect themselves as well. When a landlord asks for a tenant screening report, that just means you are one step closer to securing your housing! Plan to pay around $39 for those reports. However, sometimes the cost is absorbed by the landlord.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By LRS Healthcare

June 3, 2021

6874 Views

Alternate Housing Options for Travel Nurse Assignments

Posted on June 3, 2021June 7, 2021 by LRS Healthcare

This article was provided by LRS Healthcare.

Becoming a travel healthcare professional comes with a few great perks, more specifically, having the freedom to travel around the country while continuing with the career you love! At LRS Healthcare, we have a fantastic housing team to help you find not only the perfect place to call home for your travel assignment but also great activities & sightseeing nearby. But what if you want to switch it up for your next travel assignment and stay in an unconventional abode to call your own? Here’s a list of some of our favorite, unique alternative housing options on AirBnB.

Alternate Housing Options:

Peaceful Rainforest Treehouse Retreat

This is a dreamy AirBnB located just 8 miles away from the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park in Volcano, HI. This greenhouse sanctuary is completely secluded and surrounded by guava and eucalyptus trees, orchids, and Hapu’u ferns. With a beautifully perched platform bed, you’ll wake up to the beauty of nature every morning.

ManCave Apartment

The ManCave Apartment is located in Geneva, FL…in an airplane hanger! Enjoy a very vibrant, eclectic atmosphere with a loft apartment feel. You can enjoy the bar and wood fireplace to wind down and relax or even potentially see a neighbor aircraft take flight!

Taos Mesa Studio Earthship

This AirBnB takes “being one with mother nature” to the next level. Located in Taos, NM, this Earthship not only generates

its own electricity but also catches its own rainwater. Don’t worry, there’s still WiFi, Netflix, and more modern amenities included in this earthy home. Past travelers rave about the stargazing that can be seen right from your patio!

Converted WWII Train Car with Patio

It’s about what’s on the inside with this housing option. This WWII converted Train Car in Maryville, TN, screams farmhouse with plenty of room! If you’re a history junkie, this is the place for you; step back into a time machine to enjoy the modern furnishing, outdoor fire pit, and clawfoot tub!

Gashes Fluss Haus

If you’re looking for a quaint farm to stay on, this is the place for you. This housing option offers a two-story cottage in Asheville, NC, which is rustic with whitewashed stone walls and a wood-burning stove. This is an idyllic place to get away from the hustle and bustle but is only 10 minutes from everything downtown!

Immaculate Vintage Airstream in Mill Valley

Take a blast to the past and enjoy the 1960’s all over again in this Airstream trailer.

If you’re worried about the smaller living space, enjoy the front patio and backyard. This airstream is located in California, right between Mt. Tamalpais Park and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area!

Whether you’re on to your next travel assignment or looking for a weekend trip nearby, there are plenty of alternative housing options out there. If you’re traveling with LRS Healthcare, make sure to take advantage of our housing department! If you’re new to healthcare traveling or want a refresher about your options, check out our blog, “A Travel Nurse’s Co m plete Guide to Housing.”

By TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

May 24, 2021

7661 Views

Taking the Guesswork out of Travel Nurse Housing Options

Posted on May 24, 2021March 23, 2023 by TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

This article was provided by TNAA.

Housing can be one of the more stressful to-dos on a travel nurse’s checklist. As many traveling healthcare professionals will tell you, the housing you choose can make or break an assignment. But, by choosing the right agency, travel nurse housing doesn’t have to be a pain point for you.

Ideally, you want to work with an agency that has plenty of travel nurse housing options so you can find what works best for you from one assignment to the next.

Keep reading for helpful tips on what to go over with your agency to avoid any housing disasters.

Taking Travel Nurse Agency Housing or a Housing Stipend

Whether you decide to stay at agency-provided housing (if it is available) or take a housing stipend, you want to choose an agency that will assist you every step of the way.

The goal of your agency’s housing department should be to find you a safe and clean location that is in close proximity to your hospital and that meets your individual needs, like living in a place that is already furnished or staying within a certain budget. The bright side of choosing agency-provided housing is that your options are vetted for you based on these requirements. You also might be able to skip out on a lot of paperwork as some agencies will set up utilities, housing contracts, and more for you.

If there aren’t agency-provided options that fit your requirements, you can choose to take a housing stipend instead. This gives you the ability to find a more unique stay and perhaps pocket some of the leftover stipends. Connect with your agency to see what resources they can provide to steer you toward traveler-friendly options when choosing your own housing. Some might have access to discount codes to popular lodging sites like Airbnb, leads for traveler-friendly private homes, a list of RV parks, and other perks.

Whether you plan on taking the stipend or utilizing company-provided options, don’t be afraid to use your agency’s housing resources if they are offered.

Traveling with Family and Pets

Being on the road is exciting, but we know it can also get lonely. Find out what your travel nurse housing options are when you want to travel with your family and pets. You want to choose a travel nurse agency that will work with you to secure housing for your particular situation.

Some agencies will offer more than a one-bedroom housing option, but others might have limits on what they can provide. This information can come in handy when deciding if you want to bring someone on your assignment.

It is also important to keep in mind that several housing providers typically have restrictions on the number of animals you can bring, animal type, and breed. Many times, these regulations are set by the housing provider and not the agency itself. However, some agencies provide the added perk of finding nearby housing for your pet if they can’t camp out at your place (we’ve worked to find stables for horses many times). Ask your housing department if any animal restrictions apply and if you have other options before picking a place that isn’t pet-friendly.

Using a Payment Assistance Program

Finding a place to stay can come with many initial fees, like a security deposit, pet fees, the first month’s rent, and more. That can be a large sum of money to take out of your account at one time.

See if your agency offers a Payment Assistance Program because you might be able to get assistance with these costs. A Payment Assistance Program can help pay for some of the initial moving costs and then automatically deduct a portion of the cost from a period of paychecks once your assignment has started. Your housing department would show you what this would look like coming out of your paycheck, and you wouldn’t have to pay all the moving fees in one lump.

No matter your circumstances or if you choose to pick a housing option on your own, you want your agency to still be a useful resource for you from assignment beginning to assignment end. Ask them what your options are for housing and how they can help get you in a comfortable stay.

By Furnished Finder

April 25, 2021

6201 Views

Travel Nurse Housing: What Happens if My Rental Doesn’t Work Out?

Posted on April 25, 2021October 4, 2023 by Furnished Finder

There are a ton of how-to guides on travel nurse housing. This travel nurse housing guide is one example of how you can find a place to live for your thirteen-week assignment that is affordable and safe.

However, even the best-laid plans can end up not working out. While your main concern may be that your travel contract itself gets canceled, there is always a chance that something may fall through with your rental.

This could result from a multitude of things. Perhaps a family emergency arises, and the property owner decides to sell their rental. Or, something important breaks within the home, and repairs push back a move-in date. Regardless, most of the time, these sorts of situations will be well outside your control, so there is not much you can do but take a deep breath and reassess your options.

Start back at square one.

If you hear your current housing plan is not going to work out, perhaps the platform where you found your rental originally will have more options. Rentals that were previously unavailable may have had a tenant cancel, or new landlords may have listed properties.

Post a housing request.

The Furnished Finder Travel Nurse Housing group is a great place to post a specific request for housing on short notice. This group has tens of thousands of travelers and landlords, so putting yourself out there gets you seen by tons of people who may have leads for wherever you are going.

Reach out to your rental manager.

On occasion, nurse managers may have some leads on staff nurses who rent to travel nurses in the area. Many staff nurses have realized that renting to travelers on their unit can be a lucrative side hustle, so it’s worth asking your manager if they have any ideas of places to live.

Consider adjusting your expectations.

If you aren’t having luck finding the private, furnished space you were dreaming of. You might consider branching out to other housing options. Many travel nurses have a great experience renting furnished rooms or renting an unfurnished space and leasing furniture separately. When housing falls through at the last minute, sometimes you have to get a little creative.

Look for a short(er) term option.

Sometimes you will have much more success house hunting in person. If you are super short on time when it comes to finding new housing, it might be worth it to book a hotel for the first couple of weeks of your assignment and then take some time to look around the area for something more permanent. Or, you can find a property that is available a few weeks into your contract and make plans to stay in a hotel temporarily. Regardless, the Hotel Search Page on Furnished Finder’s website is a great place to look for reasonably priced hotels and score exclusive discounts offered only to Furnished Finder customers.

Bottom Line: Don’t panic.

If I can promise you one thing, it is this: hundreds of travelers have gone through last-minute housing hiccups, and it always, always works out. Sometimes better than you planned in the beginning. No matter how small or how big the town you are traveling to may be, there will be something available that fits your needs!

We hope you found this article what to do if your rental doesn’t work out. If you would like to read more articles on housing click here.

By AMN Healthcare

March 30, 2021

6333 Views

5 Things to Keep in Mind During Your Travel Nurse Housing Search

Posted on March 30, 2021January 16, 2023 by AMN Healthcare

This article was provided by AMN Healthcare.

Although most agencies can arrange housing for travel nurses on assignment, some RNs prefer to accept a stipend and find their own places to stay. If you’re searching for short-term travel nurse housing, here are five things to keep in mind.

1. How your stipend works and what that means for acquiring housing

Chances are, rental costs will be a primary consideration when it comes to housing, so before you begin your search, find out how much your stipend will be and when you’ll receive it. Most agencies add a percentage of the stipend to your weekly paycheck rather than paying it upfront, and amounts can vary substantially by location, so what you received on your last assignment may be different than what you’ll receive on your next assignment.

How your stipend is disbursed can impact your ability to pay for housing. Talk with your recruiter about any financial deposits needed before you secure your place. Other initial expenses include fees or deposits for utility hookups, such as electricity, water, and the internet. Your recruiter will be able to assist you with all of this, so don’t be hesitant to ask.

2. The availability of short-term housing

Many nurses who opt for a stipend are shocked to learn how scarce short-term housing is in some regions. Travel nurse assignments average only 13 weeks, but rentals may require tenants to sign leases for longer than that. If there are short-term housing options in the area, travel nurses may find themselves on long waiting lists.

Realtors who specialize in rental units can be great resources for travel nurses, particularly in urban areas where businesses regularly host temporary staff, contractors, and visiting employees. Websites such as Furnished Finder can also help you find furnished, short-term housing.

3. The importance of location

If you’re traveling to an unfamiliar town or city, location should be a major consideration in your housing search, and you should never commit to a rental without knowing exactly where it’s located. Most importantly, make sure your temporary home is situated in a safe neighborhood and has convenient routes to work.

Websites such as AreaVibes let you see neighborhood crime statistics so you can choose your housing wisely, and a mapping app can show you all the available routes to your workplace. Many apps do account for traffic, so plot your route at the times of day you’ll likely be commuting for an accurate idea of commute times.

Because most travel nurses secure their housing before arrival, make sure you see current pictures of any property you’re considering. Reading reviews from current and former tenants before signing a lease is another great way to discover any housing complex highlights and lowlights.

4. Your personal housing needs

Consider your personal housing needs when searching for a place to stay. Most travel nurses require furnished housing, but you may have other needs that are unique to your situation. If you’re traveling with pets, for example, you’ll need a pet-friendly rental. If you’re traveling with school-aged children, the local school district can be a big consideration.

Personal preferences may also factor into your decision. Some RNs want a ground-floor unit for convenience, and others prefer the security and privacy of an upper-level apartment, especially if they’ll be living alone.

5. Alternatives to apartment rentals

When searching for housing, remember that there are alternatives to apartments. Some great prospects for temporary housing include:

Friends and relatives. By rooming with loved ones, you can enjoy an extended visit while saving money.
Extended-stay hotels. Some hotels offer extended stays for reasonable prices, and you can benefit from housekeeping services.
Vacation rentals. If your assignment takes you to a prime vacation destination such as the seashore, take advantage of vacation rentals, especially in the off-season when prices drop. You may find inexpensive housing with a relaxing vacation vibe.
Airbnb. Airbnb lets you find short-term housing that offers local flavor and hospitality.
RVs. In regions that have camping facilities, renting an RV can be a unique approach to short-term housing.

Talk to your recruiter.

If you’re feeling unsure about travel nurse housing, don’t hesitate to reach out to your agency. Staffing specialists often have experience with and knowledge about short-term housing options available near your assignment. They can also talk to you about the benefits and convenience of opting for company-arranged housing.

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