You just landed your next travel assignment. Congratulations! Now comes the part that can make or break those 13 weeks: finding a place to live.
After a long shift, your housing is where you rest, recharge, and feel at home in a brand-new city. A little planning up front can save you money, stress, and a few surprises. Here are our best tips for finding travel housing that fits your budget, your schedule, and your life.
Tips for Finding Travel Nursing Housing
Finding the right home can be tricky, but there is help available. From apps and platforms designed to help find travel nursing apartments to travel nursing agencies ready to support them, travel nurses have many options to get help and find the right home.
1. Start Your Search Early
Good short-term rentals go fast, especially in popular cities and during peak travel seasons. As soon as your assignment is confirmed, start looking. Searching early gives you more choices, more room to negotiate, and time to do your homework before you sign anything. If your start date is close, look for places that offer flexible move-in dates, or book a short hotel or extended-stay option for your first week while you search in person.
2. Map Out Your Commute
A great apartment loses its charm fast if it’s an hour away from the hospital. Before you fall in love with a listing, check the drive at the times you’ll actually be on the road. A 20-minute trip at noon can look very different at 6:30 a.m. or after a night shift. Think about parking at the facility, public transit options, and whether the route feels safe and well lit when you’re coming home late. Being close to work means more time for sleep, and more time to explore your new city on your days off.
3. Know Your Budget (and Your Stipend)
If you’re taking a housing stipend, decide ahead of time how much of it you want to spend on rent and how much you’d like to keep. Remember to add in the extras that don’t always show up in the listing price, like utilities, Wi-Fi, parking, pet fees, cleaning fees, and security deposits. Some travelers choose agency-provided housing for convenience, while others prefer finding their own place for more control and flexibility. Talk with your recruiter about which option makes the most sense for your assignment, and check with a tax professional if you have questions about how your stipend works.
4. Protect Yourself from Rental Scams
Unfortunately, travel nurses can be a target for rental scams because they’re often booking from out of town. Keep these red flags in mind:
- The rent is much lower than similar places nearby.
- The host won’t do a video call or live walk through.
- You’re asked to pay by wire transfer, gift card, or another payment method that can’t be traced or refunded.
- There’s pressure to send a deposit right away before you’ve seen a lease.
- The photos look like they came from a hotel or a different listing.
When in doubt, ask for a virtual tour, look up the property address, and get everything in writing. If something feels off, trust your gut and keep looking.
5. Ask the Right Questions
Every traveler’s must-haves are a little different, but these questions can help you avoid surprises on move-in day:
- Is the space fully furnished, and does that include kitchen items, linens, and towels?
- Are utilities and Wi-Fi included in the rent?
- Is there a washer and dryer in the unit or on-site?
- Is the lease flexible if my assignment is extended or ends early?
- Are pets allowed, and are there extra fees?
- Is there secure parking or a safe place to leave my car?
- How quiet is the space during the day for night-shift sleeping?
6. Tap Into the Travel Nurse Community
Some of the best housing leads come from other travelers. Fellow nurses who’ve worked at the same facility can tell you which neighborhoods are convenient, which landlords are easy to work with, and which spots to skip. Online travel nurse groups, coworkers from past assignments, and your recruiter can all be great sources of honest, real-world advice. And once you’ve found a great place, pay it forward by sharing your experience with the next traveler.
7. Make It Feel Like Home
Even a short-term rental can feel cozy with a few personal touches. Many seasoned travelers pack a small “home kit” that goes with them from assignment to assignment, such as a favorite pillow, a soft throw blanket, a few framed photos, or a candle that smells like home. These little comforts make a big difference after a tough shift and help any new space feel like yours from day one.
Platforms and Apps That Can Help
Top apps to help source furnished rentals include:
- Furnished Finder: FF allows nurses to look for monthly furnished rentals through its search engine.
- Booking.com: Booking.com has a series of temporary housing options for healthcare professionals; it is home to over 3 million properties.
- Airbnb: Airbnb is tried and true for travel nurses. It offers fully furnished houses and rooms on daily, weekly, and monthly leases. Airbnb has flexible lease terms, making it appealing to many.
- Apartments.com: Like Booking.com, Apartments.com is designed to help individuals find short- or long-term stay options.
- HomeExchange: Finding a place to live while traveling is easier with this global social network. It offers both free and exchange-based apartments. This could work well for nurses who have their own spaces to rent out while they’re gone.
- VRBO: VRBO is similar to Airbnb. Users can book their stays based on the specific dates they plan to be in town, whether it’s a single night or a year. Prices include all applicable fees, making it easy to know the total cost upfront.
- Facebook: Facebook Marketplace, as well as groups such as Travel Nurse Housing – The Gypsy Nurse and Furnished Finder Monthly Rentals – For Travel Nurses, Corp Travelers & More, are all good places to start.
Other Resources
Travel nurses should also keep in mind that there are others who can assist them. For example, the travel nursing agency they work with can help them find a new place to stay with each new assignment. It may also be possible to connect with other travel nurses already in the new location, allowing those new to the area to pair up and find a roommate or get insight on the best places to look for a room or apartment locally.
Find Your Next Travel Job with SHC
Finding travel housing doesn’t have to be stressful. When you start early, set a clear budget, ask smart questions, and keep an eye out for red flags, you’ll be ready to settle in and focus on what you do best: caring for patients. Your recruiter is a great partner in this process, so don’t hesitate to reach out with questions about housing options for your next assignment.
Supplemental Health Care’s team is ready to help you find the right role to suit your needs and to assist you in finding the housing you need to make traveling to your destination possible. Learn more about SHC and all we have to offer here.
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