Travel nurses are the most reliable tenant base in the mid term rental market. They book 13-week contracts, they have housing stipends that cover the rent, and they treat your property well because their agency can pull them from a contract if they cause problems. I have rented to travel nurses in multiple markets and the experience is consistently better than short term Airbnb guests: fewer turnovers, less damage, and predictable income for 3 months at a time.
Here is how to set up your property to attract travel nurses, where to list it, how to price it, and what mistakes to avoid.
Why Travel Nurses Are the Best Mid Term Rental Tenants
Travel nurses work 13-week contracts at hospitals away from their home city. They need furnished housing near their assigned hospital for the duration of their contract. Most receive a housing stipend from their staffing agency that covers rent, utilities, and basic living expenses. This means they can afford to pay above-market rates for the right property, and the money is essentially guaranteed because it comes from the agency, not the nurse’s personal income.
The numbers behind the opportunity are structural, not temporary. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 197,000 registered nurse job openings annually through 2033. A third of the current nursing workforce is approaching retirement age. Hospitals cannot fill these positions locally, so they hire travel nurses on 13-week contracts. Every one of those nurses needs a furnished place to live.
Need a lease? Download our free mid term rental lease template with all 12 clauses explained.
Furnished Finder, the largest platform connecting travel nurses with housing, now has over 300,000 property listings and processes more than 2 million tenant inquiries per year. The average stay is 107 days, which means a single booking covers more than 3 months of income with one tenant, one move-in, and one move-out.
How Much Can You Earn Renting to Travel Nurses
Travel nurse housing commands a 35-55% premium over unfurnished long term rental rates in the same market. The premium reflects the furnished setup, included utilities, shorter lease flexibility, and the convenience of a move-in-ready unit.
| Market | Unfurnished 2BR Long Term Rent | Furnished Travel Nurse Rate | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | $1,800/mo | $2,800-$3,500/mo | 56-94% |
| Charlotte, NC | $1,600/mo | $2,400-$3,200/mo | 50-100% |
| Columbus, OH | $1,200/mo | $1,800-$2,500/mo | 50-108% |
| Tampa, FL | $1,700/mo | $2,400-$3,200/mo | 41-88% |
| Detroit, MI | $1,100/mo | $2,350-$3,200/mo | 114-191% |
| San Antonio, TX | $1,300/mo | $2,000-$2,800/mo | 54-115% |
At 90% occupancy (one 13-week contract followed by another with a 1-2 week gap between), a 2-bedroom unit in Nashville earning $3,000 per month generates about $32,400 per year in gross revenue. After operating costs of 20-30% (utilities, wifi, cleaning between tenants, platform fees, minor repairs), net income is roughly $22,000 to $26,000. See our full mid term rental income guide for detailed breakdowns by city.
Where to List Your Property for Travel Nurses
You need to be on multiple platforms simultaneously. Travel nurses search across several sites depending on their agency, location, and personal preference. Here are the platforms that generate the most bookings.
Furnished Finder (Primary Platform)
Furnished Finder is the dominant platform for travel nurse housing. It was built specifically for healthcare travelers and has the largest concentration of travel nurse tenants of any rental platform. The annual listing fee is $199 per property (with additional units at $149 each). There are no booking fees, no commission on rent, and no middleman. You communicate directly with tenants and handle payments yourself.
This is important: Furnished Finder does not take a percentage of your rent. Airbnb takes 3% from hosts on every booking. Over a year, that 3% on a $3,000/month rental adds up to $1,080 in fees. Furnished Finder’s flat $199 annual fee saves you $880 per year compared to Airbnb.
Airbnb (Set 28+ Day Minimum Stay)
Airbnb is the second-largest source of travel nurse bookings. Set your minimum stay to 28 days to avoid nightly bookings and attract the right tenant type. Offer a monthly discount of 40-50% off your nightly rate. Travel nurses searching Airbnb filter by monthly stays and look for properties near their assigned hospital.
The advantage of Airbnb is search visibility. More people search Airbnb than Furnished Finder. The disadvantage is the 3% host fee on every booking and the Airbnb guest service fee that increases the total cost to your tenant.
Additional Platforms
Zillow Rentals: List your property as a furnished rental with a 1-3 month minimum lease. Zillow reaches a broader audience including corporate relocations and families, not just travel nurses.
Travel Nurse Housing (.com): A niche platform focused exclusively on travel nurse housing. Smaller than Furnished Finder but highly targeted.
Facebook Groups: Search for “travel nurse housing [your city]” on Facebook. Most major markets have active groups where nurses post housing requests. These groups are free to use and the leads are direct.
HousingAnywhere: Strong for international healthcare professionals and corporate tenants. Useful if your market has hospitals that recruit internationally.
What Travel Nurses Want in a Rental Property
I have hosted dozens of travel nurses. Their priorities are different from Airbnb vacation guests. Here is what they actually care about, ranked by importance.
1. Proximity to the hospital. This is non-negotiable. Travel nurses work 12-hour shifts, often starting at 6 AM or 6 PM. A 30-minute commute is acceptable. An hour commute means they will pick a different property. List the distance and drive time to the nearest major hospital in your listing description.
2. A quiet space for sleeping during the day. Many travel nurses work night shifts. They need blackout curtains in the bedroom, a quiet neighborhood, and no loud shared spaces. If your property has thin walls or noisy neighbors, mention it honestly rather than getting a bad review.
3. Fast, reliable wifi. Travel nurses do charting, continuing education, and video calls with family. Minimum 100 Mbps. Test your wifi speed before listing and include the result in your description.
4. A fully equipped kitchen. Travel nurses cook most meals at home to save money. They need pots, pans, plates, utensils, a coffee maker, a microwave, and basic spices. Do not make them buy kitchen supplies for a 13-week stay.
5. In-unit washer and dryer. This is the single most requested amenity after location. Travel nurses wear scrubs daily. They need to wash them regularly without going to a laundromat. Properties with in-unit laundry command a 10-15% rent premium over those with shared laundry.
6. A dedicated workspace. A desk and chair in a quiet area. Many nurses handle charting from home and some take online continuing education courses during their contract.
7. Parking. Free, dedicated parking. Travel nurses drive to the hospital for every shift. Paid parking or street-only parking reduces your listing’s appeal.
8. Pet-friendly (if possible). A significant percentage of travel nurses travel with pets. If your property allows pets (even with a pet deposit), you open yourself to a larger pool of tenants. Many operators who allow pets report faster booking times because pet-friendly mid term housing is scarce.
How to Price Your Travel Nurse Rental
Start with the unfurnished long term rent for a comparable unit in your market. Add 35-55% for the furnished premium. Then check Furnished Finder for comparable listings in your area to make sure your price is competitive.
Pricing formula: Unfurnished rent x 1.4 to 1.55 = your monthly rate
For a $1,500/month unfurnished 2-bedroom: $2,100 to $2,325 per month furnished.
Include in the price: all utilities (electric, gas, water, trash), wifi, and basic supplies (toilet paper, paper towels, dish soap for the first week). Travel nurses expect an all-inclusive rate. Surprising them with utility bills after move-in leads to bad reviews and lost referrals.
55% of tenants on Furnished Finder search for properties at $2,500 per month or below. If your rate is above $2,500 in a mid-market city, you will face more competition and longer vacancy periods. Price competitively and fill the unit fast rather than pricing high and sitting empty.
The Traveling Traveler blog, written by a travel therapist with 15 years of experience, puts it directly: “cheaper wins for most travelers.” In 2026, many travel nurse agencies have reduced housing stipends compared to the 2021-2022 peak. Pricing to the current market, not the peak market, is how you maintain occupancy.
Setting Up Your Furnished Finder Listing
Step 1: Create your account. Go to Furnished Finder and sign up as a property owner. The annual fee is $199 for your first listing. Additional units are $149 each.
Step 2: Professional photos. This is not optional. Travel nurses compare 10-20 listings before booking. Professional photos of every room, the kitchen, the bathroom, the workspace, and the exterior increase your booking rate. Budget $150-$300 for a professional photographer. It pays for itself with one booking.
Step 3: Write a detailed description. Include: distance to the nearest hospital (name the hospital), wifi speed, parking situation, pet policy, lease terms, what is included in the rent, and check-in/check-out process. Be specific. “5 minutes from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 100 Mbps wifi, free covered parking, pets welcome with $250 deposit” is better than “great location, fast internet.”
Step 4: Set your availability calendar. Keep it updated. Travel nurses book 2-4 weeks before their contract starts. If your calendar shows availability that is not current, you waste their time and yours.
Step 5: Respond fast. More than 40% of mid term renters secure housing within two weeks of their move-in date. If you take 48 hours to respond to an inquiry, the nurse has already booked somewhere else. Respond within 2-4 hours during business hours.
The Lease: Keep It Simple
Travel nurse leases should be simple, clear, and short. A 2-3 page lease covering the essentials is sufficient. Do not use a 30-page residential lease template designed for 12-month tenants.
Your lease should include: monthly rent amount, lease start and end dates (matching the 13-week contract), security deposit amount and refund conditions, what is included (utilities, wifi, parking, furnishings), house rules (quiet hours, smoking policy, guest policy, pet policy if applicable), early termination clause (travel nurse contracts sometimes get canceled or extended), and your contact information for maintenance issues.
If you need a template, see our co-hosting agreement template which can be adapted for direct mid term leases. For legal requirements specific to your state, consult a local real estate attorney or review your state’s landlord-tenant statute.
Getting Started: Co-Listing vs Owning the Property
If you own a property near a hospital, you can start listing it on Furnished Finder this week. Furnish it, photograph it, list it, and wait for inquiries.
If you do not own property but want to enter this market, you have two options:
Co-listing (zero capital): Find property owners near hospitals who have vacant units or underperforming Airbnb listings. Offer to manage their property on Furnished Finder and Airbnb (30+ day minimum) for 20-25% of the monthly rent. You handle the listing, tenant communication, and turnover coordination. The owner keeps the rest. No lease, no furnishing costs, no risk. This is the fastest way to start earning from travel nurse housing without spending money.
Rental arbitrage ($7,000-$12,000 startup): Lease a property near a major hospital, furnish it, and list it on Furnished Finder and Airbnb. You keep all revenue above your costs. Higher income per property but requires capital for first month’s rent, security deposit, and furnishing. See our startup cost breakdown for exact numbers.
Both models work for travel nurse housing. The co-listing path is how many 10XBNB students start. They build a portfolio of properties they manage for other owners, learn the operations, and then move into arbitrage or ownership when they have capital and experience. If you want structured guidance on building a travel nurse rental business from zero, book a strategy call to see if the 10XBNB program fits your goals.
Common Mistakes When Renting to Travel Nurses
Pricing to the 2021-2022 peak market. Housing stipends have come down. Operators who still charge peak rates are sitting with vacancies while competitively priced units fill within days.
Too many house rules. Travel nurses are adults working 12-hour hospital shifts. They do not need a page of rules about quiet hours, thermostat settings, and shoe removal. Keep rules to the essentials: no smoking inside, no unauthorized pets (if pets are not allowed), quiet hours after 10 PM, and report maintenance issues promptly.
Slow response times. Travel nurses book fast. If you take more than 4 hours to respond to an inquiry during business hours, they have moved on. Set up push notifications on Furnished Finder and Airbnb so you see inquiries immediately.
Not listing the hospital name and distance. Travel nurses search by hospital, not by neighborhood. If your listing says “great location” without naming the hospital that is 5 minutes away, you are invisible to the nurses who would actually book your unit.
Ignoring the extension opportunity. Many travel nurses extend their contracts for a second 13-week term at the same hospital. If your tenant is happy, reach out 4-6 weeks before their contract ends and offer to extend the lease at the same rate. Extensions mean zero vacancy, zero turnover costs, and six months of continuous income instead of three.
Frequently Asked Questions About Travel Nurse Rentals
How much can I charge travel nurses for rent?
35-55% above the unfurnished long term rent for a comparable unit in your market. In most mid-size cities, that means $2,000 to $3,500 per month for a furnished 2-bedroom. 55% of Furnished Finder tenants search at $2,500 or below, so price competitively.
What platform is best for finding travel nurse tenants?
Furnished Finder is the primary platform (300,000+ listings, 2 million annual inquiries, $199/year flat fee with no booking commissions). Also list on Airbnb with a 28-day minimum and on Zillow Rentals for broader reach.
Do I need to furnish the property?
Yes. Travel nurses need a move-in-ready unit with furniture, bedding, kitchen supplies, wifi, and utilities included. Budget $4,000 to $7,000 to furnish a 2-bedroom apartment. See our mid term rental income guide for a full startup cost breakdown.
How long do travel nurses typically stay?
The standard contract is 13 weeks (approximately 3 months). Many nurses extend for a second 13-week term at the same location. The average stay on Furnished Finder is 107 days.
Can I rent to travel nurses with no money?
Yes, through the co-listing model. Manage a property owner’s furnished unit on Furnished Finder and Airbnb for 20-25% of monthly rent. No lease, no furnishing, no financial risk.
What cities are best for travel nurse rentals?
Cities with major hospital systems generate the most demand. Nashville (Vanderbilt, HCA), Columbus (Wexner Medical Center), Charlotte (Atrium Health, Novant), Tampa (Tampa General, Moffitt), and Detroit (Henry Ford Health expansion) are among the strongest markets. See our full ranking of best cities for mid term rentals.
Are travel nurses good tenants?
Generally, yes. They are working professionals on contract with a staffing agency. They treat properties well because their agency can terminate their contract for housing violations. They pay reliably because their housing stipend covers the rent. Turnover is predictable (every 13 weeks), and many extend for a second term.
source https://learn.10xbnb.com/rent-to-travel-nurses/
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