Travel Nurses have to find housing on short notice, and housing providers in their next assignment location don’t always play nicely when it comes to lease flexibilty.

Most apartment complexes lease for six or twelve months. A typical travel assignment might last only three months, though.

Housing is one of the most important factors for any Travel Nurse to consider. You’ll be far less stressed if you carefully research your options to arrive at the best choice.

Agency-Placed Housing

Agency-placed housing means you’ll work with an agency to find housing. There are many benefits to this option and, for most first-time Travel Nurses, it’s arguably the best way to go.

An agency typically has connections with housing providers in places with nursing assignments, making it far easier to score suitable housing.

You don’t have to worry about coming up with a lot of cash for a deposit. You don’t have to worry about searching for a place that will sign a lease for the length of your assignment. And if an assignment is cancelled early, you won’t have to worry about paying to cancel the lease.

If you have a pet, the agency is more likely to know where to find suitable housing options for you and your furry friend.

When it’s your first assignment, you’ll have plenty of other things to coordinate. Letting your agency take care of the housing can make your intro to travel nursing easier.

Of course, there are some drawbacks too. You’ll have a smaller role in the decision-making process, but your preferences are considered. BlueForce gives you a couple of different options to choose from. But in more remote areas housing may be scarce, and there are no guarantees either way.

Make things easier on yourself by having a conversation with your Recruiter. Find out exactly what your accommodations will be like, and how close they are to your facility.

Stipend Pay

A housing stipend means you’ll get money for your housing in your paycheck. The actual amount varies depending on your contract and the specific location. When receiving a housing stipend, those funds will be provided as a tax-free government approved stipend, which means you actually end up with more money in your pocket.

If you choose this option, however, you’ll be responsible for finding and paying for your own housing, including expenses like utilities, internet, cable and so on.

Taking the housing stipend is a great option for Travel Nurses who plan to live with family or friends in the area. It’s also popular with Nurses who travel with their house, like an RV.

Some Travel Nurses simply want to choose their own housing. A housing stipend allows you to control exactly where you’re living. It allows you to live near what is most important to you. You can be close to good schools for your kids, or be close to the city and night life.

The downside to a housing stipend is that it can be challenging to find a place willing to sign a three-month lease. If a short-term lease is an option, it usually comes at a higher cost. You’ll also have to pay any deposits, application fees and the like.

Travel Nurse Housing Groups

There are many forums and groups across the internet created to help Travel Nurses. The Gypsy Nurse Travel Nurse Housing Group on Facebook is just one example. Thousands of Travel Nurses have joined this group for housing advice.

Along with advice, the group also lists rental opportunities. Groups like this are a great way to connect with your fellow Travel Nurses, and you may find just the right place to stay.

Vacation Rental Sites

Vacation rental sites like Airbnb, HomeAway and VRBO have become extremely popular with Travel Nurses.

Apartment complexes tend to be rigid about lease length. But property owners on these sites are more flexible and may be willing to rent to you for the duration of your assignment.

When using these services, contact the property owner directly. They will usually give you a rate customized to the length of your assignment.

Keep in mind that you may be renting a room in someone’s house. You may want to treat it like a roommate situation and do some in-depth checking.

Furnished Finder

Furnished Finder is free to Travel Nurses and works with over 30,000 vetted properties. You get access to property owners who will rent furnished spaces for short periods.

Home Sharing/Roommate Finder Sites

If you don’t mind sharing your space with a roommate, it’s a great way to make that housing stipend stretch further. A roommate might also help you get better acquainted with everything your new location has to offer.

There are many roommate finder sites to help you find the right one, such as SpareRoom and Roommates.com.

Corporate Housing Services

Corporate housing is convenient, but it’s usually the most expensive option for Travel Nurses. It offers the livability of a fully furnished home or apartment, with many of the amenities of a hotel. Rates are typically lower than what you’d pay to rent a hotel room by the day, but they can still be pretty steep.

Extended Stay Hotels

Extended stay hotels are the middle ground between apartments and traditional hotels. You’ll feel more at home than in a standard hotel room, but not as at-home as you would in an apartment.

Most extended stay hotels offer at least a kitchenette, if not a full kitchen, so you can still cook your own meals. By booking a stay longer than 30 days, you can often get a better rate.

Have you found great housing options we didn’t list?

Comment to let BlueForce and your fellow Travel Nurses know about those housing options for Travel Nurses. Contact BlueForce with any questions about our housing policies.