Finding Furnished Housing as a Travel Nurse

Finding furnished housing on a 13-week contract is one of the more annoying parts of travel nursing — and doing it wrong is expensive. You can end up paying $800/month more than you need to, or locked into a bad apartment with no way out.

Here’s how to find good furnished housing quickly, without overpaying.

Where to Look

Furnished Finder is purpose-built for travel nurses and the best starting point. Landlords listed there know your situation — short-term leases, 13-week blocks, professional tenants. Many have worked with travel nurses before and won’t require a 12-month lease.

Airbnb and VRBO work for short gaps or when you need to start fast, but the nightly rate adds up. A $90/night Airbnb is $2,700/month. Use these for your first week while you find something better, not for your entire contract.

Facebook groups are underrated. Search “[City name] travel nurse housing” and “[City name] furnished rentals.” Landlords who post here are often open to negotiating directly, which cuts out platform fees.

Corporate housing companies (National, Oakwood, Blueground) offer reliable furnished apartments with flexible terms. The units are nice and lease terms are clear. The downside: they’re usually 20–30% more expensive than the same apartment rented directly.

Craigslist is hit or miss but still worth checking. Filter for furnished and sort by date. Respond quickly — the good ones go fast.

What to Ask Before Committing

Before you sign anything, get clear answers on:

• What’s actually included? Furniture, linens, wifi, utilities? Get the list in writing.
• Early termination clause? If your assignment ends early or you get canceled, can you exit without penalty?
• Month-to-month or fixed term? Month-to-month costs more but gives you flexibility. Fixed term is cheaper but you’re locked in.
• Parking situation? Night shift nurses need covered or guaranteed parking.
• Pet policy? If you travel with a pet, confirm before you fall in love with the place.

Red Flags to Watch For

A landlord who won’t video call before you sign is a bad sign. Scams targeting travel nurses do exist — they post stolen photos, collect a deposit, and disappear.

Always video call and ask them to show you the actual unit. If they won’t, move on.

Be skeptical of any listing that asks for payment via Zelle, Venmo, or wire transfer before you’ve signed a lease. Legitimate landlords accept checks or ACH.

If the photos look too good for the price, reverse image search them in Google Images.

Timing Your Search

Start looking 3–4 weeks before your assignment start date. The sweet spot is 2–3 weeks out — close enough that landlords are motivated, far enough that good options are still available.

If you’re scrambling with less than a week: call your hospital’s HR department. Many maintain a list of travel-nurse-friendly landlords. It’s not always on the website.

Start your search on Furnished Finder with a 2-week buffer before your contract begins. Set a realistic budget — your housing stipend minus about $200–$300 for utilities — and filter from there.