Finding the right housing for a 13-week travel nurse contract can be stressful. You need a safe location, flexible lease terms, and a fully furnished space—all within your housing stipend. Here is a guide on how to find the best month-to-month leases for your next assignment.
Understand Your Housing Stipend
Before you start looking, know your budget. Your agency provides a tax-free housing stipend based on the cost of living in the assignment area. If you find housing that costs less than your stipend, you keep the difference. This makes finding cost-effective housing a top priority for many nurses.
What Travel Nurses Need in Housing
When evaluating properties, look for these essential features:
- Fully Furnished: You shouldn't have to buy or move furniture for a 3-month stay.
- Utilities Included: Setting up gas, electric, and Wi-Fi for a short term is a hassle. Look for all-inclusive pricing.
- Proximity to the Hospital: Keep your commute under 30 minutes to maximize rest time between 12-hour shifts.
- In-Unit Laundry: Essential for washing scrubs quickly and easily.
- Blackout Curtains: Crucial if you are working night shifts and sleeping during the day.
- Safety: Secure parking and a safe neighborhood are non-negotiable.
Where to Look
There are several platforms dedicated to mid-term and travel nurse housing:
- Furnished Finder: The most popular platform specifically for travel nurses. Landlords here expect 30-90 day stays.
- Corporate Housing Providers: Companies that specialize in month-to-month furnished rentals often have high-quality, reliable inventory.
- Facebook Groups: There are many groups dedicated to travel nurse housing, but be extremely cautious of scams.
How to Avoid Scams
The rental market unfortunately has scammers targeting traveling professionals. Protect yourself by:
- Never wiring money (like Western Union) or paying via untraceable apps before signing a lease or seeing the property.
- Requesting a live video tour if you cannot visit in person.
- Using reputable platforms or established corporate housing providers.
- Trusting your gut: if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.
How SEBA Housing Helps
SEBA Housing offers move-in ready, fully furnished homes that are perfect for travel nurses and healthcare professionals. With flexible month-to-month terms, all utilities included, and locations convenient to major medical centers, we provide a safe and quiet environment so you can focus on your patients and your rest.
