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Updated about 2 years ago, 10/18/2022

User Stats

34
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10
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Alecia Williams
  • Specialist
  • Los Angeles, CA
10
Votes |
34
Posts

short term rentals traveling nurses market

Alecia Williams
  • Specialist
  • Los Angeles, CA
Posted

I’m purchasing a single family home, and looking to rent out the rooms to traveling nurses or students. Has anyone had experience with this type of market ? I live in the county San Bernardino, ca.

User Stats

199
Posts
208
Votes
Justin Anderson
  • Property Manager
  • Pigeon Forge
208
Votes |
199
Posts
Justin Anderson
  • Property Manager
  • Pigeon Forge
Replied

No experience there, but I have a touch in Alaska.  Try calling the hospitals' HR departments asking about how they assist  travelers with placement.  They may have specific companies they work with or they may just add you to a list that they hand out when asked.

User Stats

7,656
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6,180
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Michael Baum
Pro Member
#1 Short-Term & Vacation Rental Discussions Contributor
  • Olympia, WA
6,180
Votes |
7,656
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Michael Baum
Pro Member
#1 Short-Term & Vacation Rental Discussions Contributor
  • Olympia, WA
Replied

Hey @Alecia Williams, my neighbor is an investor and she uses FurnishedFinder.com. She gets all the nurses and other traveling corp people she needs. 

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User Stats

34
Posts
10
Votes
Alecia Williams
  • Specialist
  • Los Angeles, CA
10
Votes |
34
Posts
Alecia Williams
  • Specialist
  • Los Angeles, CA
Replied

@Justin Anderson thank you for your response.

User Stats

34
Posts
10
Votes
Alecia Williams
  • Specialist
  • Los Angeles, CA
10
Votes |
34
Posts
Alecia Williams
  • Specialist
  • Los Angeles, CA
Replied

@Michael Baum

Awesome ! Thank you.

User Stats

12,083
Posts
14,470
Votes
John Underwood
Pro Member
#1 Short-Term & Vacation Rental Discussions Contributor
  • Investor
  • Greer, SC
14,470
Votes |
12,083
Posts
John Underwood
Pro Member
#1 Short-Term & Vacation Rental Discussions Contributor
  • Investor
  • Greer, SC
Replied

I would make sure you research the requirements of having a STR in your area first.

  • John Underwood
  • User Stats

    4,508
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    4,190
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    Paul Sandhu#4 Short-Term & Vacation Rental Discussions Contributor
    • Investor
    • The worst town to live in, KS
    4,190
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    4,508
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    Paul Sandhu#4 Short-Term & Vacation Rental Discussions Contributor
    • Investor
    • The worst town to live in, KS
    Replied

    The travelling nurses I've rented to are either psychotic or a mutt, just like most of my previous 1800 tenants.

    User Stats

    34
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    10
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    Alecia Williams
    • Specialist
    • Los Angeles, CA
    10
    Votes |
    34
    Posts
    Alecia Williams
    • Specialist
    • Los Angeles, CA
    Replied

    @Michael Baum

    Thank you, I found so much info on that site.

    User Stats

    7,656
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    6,180
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    Michael Baum
    Pro Member
    #1 Short-Term & Vacation Rental Discussions Contributor
    • Olympia, WA
    6,180
    Votes |
    7,656
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    Michael Baum
    Pro Member
    #1 Short-Term & Vacation Rental Discussions Contributor
    • Olympia, WA
    Replied

    You are welcome @Alecia Williams. Your interest in this just happen to coincide with me chatting with my neighbor earlier that day. She doesn't live in the home next door but rents the upper and lower sections separately.

    She keeps me updated on who is coming and when kind of thing. Seems to be working well for her. She also has several commercial properties including a 6 unit medical building and a small bank. Both have been vacant for over a year.

    Speaks well to working in the residential space seems to keep on keeping on.

    Good luck with your endeavor!

    User Stats

    224
    Posts
    323
    Votes
    Andrew Carlson
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Rochester, MN
    323
    Votes |
    224
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    Andrew Carlson
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Rochester, MN
    Replied

    @Paul Sandhu

    If you’re from the worst town to live in, you get the worst tenants.

    User Stats

    224
    Posts
    323
    Votes
    Andrew Carlson
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Rochester, MN
    323
    Votes |
    224
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    Andrew Carlson
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Rochester, MN
    Replied

    @Alecia Williams

    What I found travel nursing is that many folks weren’t charging enough. Whatever you think would be fair to charge for a fully furnished utilities included rental, add 20% and that’s your travel nurse rate.

    User Stats

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    4,190
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    Paul Sandhu#4 Short-Term & Vacation Rental Discussions Contributor
    • Investor
    • The worst town to live in, KS
    4,190
    Votes |
    4,508
    Posts
    Paul Sandhu#4 Short-Term & Vacation Rental Discussions Contributor
    • Investor
    • The worst town to live in, KS
    Replied
    Originally posted by @Andrew Carlson:

    @Paul Sandhu

    If you’re from the worst town to live in, you get the worst tenants.

     Seriously, it's the worst town in Kansas.  Coffeyville.  Contractors that come here call it Coffin-ville. Because that's how some people leave.  In a coffin.  Had it happen to 3 of my tenants.

    User Stats

    34
    Posts
    10
    Votes
    Alecia Williams
    • Specialist
    • Los Angeles, CA
    10
    Votes |
    34
    Posts
    Alecia Williams
    • Specialist
    • Los Angeles, CA
    Replied

    @Andrew Carlson

    I like that ! And yes everything would be included .

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    User Stats

    8
    Posts
    10
    Votes
    Kwadwo Asare
    Pro Member
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Sacramento, CA
    10
    Votes |
    8
    Posts
    Kwadwo Asare
    Pro Member
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Sacramento, CA
    Replied

    Hi @Alecia Williams I’m actually in the process of doing the same thing with a single family house I own. I lived in this home for years with my family. However we just bought a new home so we’re converting this house into a rental property.

    My wife and I have decided to give short-term renting a try. We also want to focus our energies on renting to traveling nurses.

    I’m definitely interested in learning more about your journey as you progress forward.

    Please keep us posted 😃🤙🏿

    Good Luck

  • Kwadwo Asare
  • User Stats

    34
    Posts
    10
    Votes
    Alecia Williams
    • Specialist
    • Los Angeles, CA
    10
    Votes |
    34
    Posts
    Alecia Williams
    • Specialist
    • Los Angeles, CA
    Replied

    @Kwadwo Asare

    Yes! Will do and you do the same !

    User Stats

    264
    Posts
    279
    Votes
    Fred Cannon
    • Rental Property Investor
    • St Augustine, FL
    279
    Votes |
    264
    Posts
    Fred Cannon
    • Rental Property Investor
    • St Augustine, FL
    Replied

    @Alecia Williams I rent to travelers, mostly nurses and have only had good tenants. The better the property and the higher the rent gets better tenants. People that have a lot of issues with tenants need to look at themselves and their properties. You get what you attract in life. I use the website that was mention in one of your post and always have a tenant lined up for the next vacancy. Good luck.

    User Stats

    34
    Posts
    10
    Votes
    Alecia Williams
    • Specialist
    • Los Angeles, CA
    10
    Votes |
    34
    Posts
    Alecia Williams
    • Specialist
    • Los Angeles, CA
    Replied

    @Fred Cannon

    Thank you, would you treat this similar to Airbnb? Or more like a bed and breakfast ?or combo of both. Can you share how you got started and an example of the financials.

    User Stats

    264
    Posts
    279
    Votes
    Fred Cannon
    • Rental Property Investor
    • St Augustine, FL
    279
    Votes |
    264
    Posts
    Fred Cannon
    • Rental Property Investor
    • St Augustine, FL
    Replied

    @Alecia Williams. My rentals are condos so I treat it like a individual property. If you are renting out a part of your house not sure how that would work. I have a friend who is a traveling nurse and I have a few condos that I rent. She suggested I Use furnished finders and rent to travelers like her. I converted my first condo into a furnished unit about a year ago and now I am converting each unit as they become empty. I love renting to nurses, they are doing an amazing service to the communities they work in and they are the best tenants. The person who said they are psychos and mutts is misinformed.

    User Stats

    9,999
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    18,555
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    Joe Splitrock
    Pro Member
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Sioux Falls, SD
    18,555
    Votes |
    9,999
    Posts
    Joe Splitrock
    Pro Member
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Sioux Falls, SD
    ModeratorReplied

    @Alecia Williams we have a short term rental that is a block away from the hospital. Up until this point, we have had guests on AirBNB for shorter stays. We recently started advertising on Furnished Finder, which caters to traveling nurses. We have our first nurse checking in today for a one month stay. I can let you know how it goes! We have another nurse interested for a three month stay. She specifically stated she wants to rent an entire place - not just a room. I am not sure how many prefer an entire place versus room. It probably depends on privacy needs. My advice is go to Furnished Finder and search your local market. Look at availability and rates for your type of property. Follow the availability over a month or two and that will give you an idea how fast things rent. Our plan is to still use AirBNB to fill gaps, but ideally get travel nurses for larger blocks. I have heard good and bad about travel nurses.

  • Joe Splitrock
  • User Stats

    34
    Posts
    10
    Votes
    Alecia Williams
    • Specialist
    • Los Angeles, CA
    10
    Votes |
    34
    Posts
    Alecia Williams
    • Specialist
    • Los Angeles, CA
    Replied

    @Fred Cannon

    Thank you for sharing your experience, I too thought about a condo, however I wasn't happy about the HOA fees.

    User Stats

    34
    Posts
    10
    Votes
    Alecia Williams
    • Specialist
    • Los Angeles, CA
    10
    Votes |
    34
    Posts
    Alecia Williams
    • Specialist
    • Los Angeles, CA
    Replied

    @Joe Splitrock

    How exciting ! Keep me in the loop of how it goes, I spoke to a nurse that was requesting a similar request, a king size bed vs a queen, due to a her husband traveled with her.

    User Stats

    26
    Posts
    21
    Votes
    Ashley O'Hearn
    • Real Estate Agent
    • Columbia, SC
    21
    Votes |
    26
    Posts
    Ashley O'Hearn
    • Real Estate Agent
    • Columbia, SC
    Replied

    @Alecia Williams I have 6 houses that I use for short term renting. One of them the HOA only allows 3 month stays so I only host traveling nurses there. I can honestly say I have never once had a bad renter that was a nurse. They work a ton so they're not home much, very low maintenance and they pay well. Nurses are doctors are the true heroes right now so I make sure to have a welcome basket for them (a six pack of beer, bottle of wine, snacks etc) when they arrive. They usually have driven a long ways that day and will enjoy that upon arrival. Make them feel like you care and they will treat you and your house with respect. Shoot me a message if you have any questions. Happy to help you get rolling with your guests!

    User Stats

    34
    Posts
    10
    Votes
    Alecia Williams
    • Specialist
    • Los Angeles, CA
    10
    Votes |
    34
    Posts
    Alecia Williams
    • Specialist
    • Los Angeles, CA
    Replied

    @Ashley O'Hearn

    Thank you, Ashley, yes I have a ton of questions - 1. is the screening process similar to a regular rental? 2. Is it wise to charge a security deposit?

    3. Do you manage your own properties?

    4. Did you go under a LLC?

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    User Stats

    26
    Posts
    21
    Votes
    Ashley O'Hearn
    • Real Estate Agent
    • Columbia, SC
    21
    Votes |
    26
    Posts
    Ashley O'Hearn
    • Real Estate Agent
    • Columbia, SC
    Replied

    @Alecia Williams I don’t do a screening process for them. Call me crazy but if you’ve got your **** together enough to get through med school or nursing school I trust you enough not to burn down my house 😂

    I don’t do a security deposit on any of my homes and I explain up front that should anything get wrecked they’re liable (never had an issue). I do all the management myself, it’s for sure a full time job but saves money on management.

    All of my properties are umbrellas under a single LLC.

    User Stats

    34
    Posts
    10
    Votes
    Alecia Williams
    • Specialist
    • Los Angeles, CA
    10
    Votes |
    34
    Posts
    Alecia Williams
    • Specialist
    • Los Angeles, CA
    Replied

    @Ashley O'Hearn

    Wow ! Your really trust them ...and rightfully so ...

    Do you have a particular website or several sites that you use?

    What do you think is your most difficult issues in renting to traveling nurses and doctors ?

    What has made you stand out and be so successful at this ?

    User Stats

    26
    Posts
    21
    Votes
    Ashley O'Hearn
    • Real Estate Agent
    • Columbia, SC
    21
    Votes |
    26
    Posts
    Ashley O'Hearn
    • Real Estate Agent
    • Columbia, SC
    Replied

    @Alecia Williams I used furnished finder and Airbnb. Airbnb is easier and protects you more I feel. If you use Airbnb put in the description that you cater to travel nurses.

    I haven’t found any difficulty to be honest. They’re my ideal renters. I think to stand out you just need to spend a little extra to make your home really inviting and treat them with respect.