Skip to content
×
PRO
Pro Members Get Full Access!
Get off the sidelines and take action in real estate investing with BiggerPockets Pro. Our comprehensive suite of tools and resources minimize mistakes, support informed decisions, and propel you to success.
Advanced networking features
Market and Deal Finder tools
Property analysis calculators
Landlord Command Center
$0
TODAY
$69.00/month when billed monthly.
$32.50/month when billed annually.
7 day free trial. Cancel anytime
Already a Pro Member? Sign in here

Join Over 3 Million Real Estate Investors

Create a free BiggerPockets account to comment, participate, and connect with over 3 million real estate investors.
Use your real name
By signing up, you indicate that you agree to the BiggerPockets Terms & Conditions.
The community here is like my own little personal real estate army that I can depend upon to help me through ANY problems I come across.
Short-Term & Vacation Rental Discussions
All Forum Categories
Followed Discussions
Followed Categories
Followed People
Followed Locations
Market News & Data
General Info
Real Estate Strategies
Landlording & Rental Properties
Real Estate Professionals
Financial, Tax, & Legal
Real Estate Classifieds
Reviews & Feedback

Updated about 3 years ago, 11/18/2021

User Stats

261
Posts
166
Votes
Patrick Flanagan
  • Property Manager
  • Prineville, Or
166
Votes |
261
Posts

Traveling nurse rentals

Patrick Flanagan
  • Property Manager
  • Prineville, Or
Posted

I’m looking to connect with a few people that rent out units to traveling nurses. I have a 4 plex about 5 mins away from a hospital where I just had my baby girl!!

But I was curious what things I should be aware of when considering making a unit ready to rent to traveling nurses. Is the vacancies a lot lower? I see lots of deals structured with 30 day minimums. To me I’d rather stay in a house with my own living space vs staying in a hotel for 30 days at $100 a night.

User Stats

17
Posts
16
Votes
Lioneil Guevarra
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Oakland, CA
16
Votes |
17
Posts
Lioneil Guevarra
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Oakland, CA
Replied

@Patrick Flanagan I have 2 in the sf bay area

User Stats

261
Posts
166
Votes
Patrick Flanagan
  • Property Manager
  • Prineville, Or
166
Votes |
261
Posts
Patrick Flanagan
  • Property Manager
  • Prineville, Or
Replied

@Lioneil Guevarra

Awesome!

Baselane logo
Baselane
|
Sponsored
Baselane is the Ultimate All-In-One Banking Platform for REI Built with integrated rent collection & bookkeeping to save time so you can grow your RE business.

User Stats

2,350
Posts
2,389
Votes
Brian Garlington
  • Realtor
  • Oakland, CA and a Real Estate Investor with Multi-Family Units and a Self Storage Facility
2,389
Votes |
2,350
Posts
Brian Garlington
  • Realtor
  • Oakland, CA and a Real Estate Investor with Multi-Family Units and a Self Storage Facility
Replied

@Lioneil Guevarra    When AirBnB started to dry up for a little bit last year here in the Bay Area I was telling people to use their existing AirBnB rental as a place to cater to traveling nurses. The ones who listened didn't skip a beat and kept the income coming in.

User Stats

261
Posts
166
Votes
Patrick Flanagan
  • Property Manager
  • Prineville, Or
166
Votes |
261
Posts
Patrick Flanagan
  • Property Manager
  • Prineville, Or
Replied

@Brian Garlington

That’s great advice

User Stats

17
Posts
16
Votes
Lioneil Guevarra
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Oakland, CA
16
Votes |
17
Posts
Lioneil Guevarra
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Oakland, CA
Replied

Brian Garlington  Yup. That's great advice.  I've actually been renting to healthcare professionals for the past few years.  My day job is a hospital pharmacy in Palo Alto.  So I know a lot about this niche.  It's a great one as tenants tend to be more professional and reliable. I actually want to venture out of state now, and I joined this group today so I can get some tips. I'm kind of nervous about letting control go so I can free up more opportunities in different locations.

User Stats

261
Posts
166
Votes
Patrick Flanagan
  • Property Manager
  • Prineville, Or
166
Votes |
261
Posts
Patrick Flanagan
  • Property Manager
  • Prineville, Or
Replied

@Lioneil Guevarra

Wow man sounds awesome! I’d love to learn from you. Have you read long distance real estate investing by David Greene? That book helped me calm my fears

User Stats

17
Posts
16
Votes
Lioneil Guevarra
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Oakland, CA
16
Votes |
17
Posts
Lioneil Guevarra
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Oakland, CA
Replied

@Patrick Flanagan I'm I actually reading it right now, and putting together a team and system is critical. It's a great resource because it articulates everything I'm trying to figure out.

User Stats

261
Posts
166
Votes
Patrick Flanagan
  • Property Manager
  • Prineville, Or
166
Votes |
261
Posts
Patrick Flanagan
  • Property Manager
  • Prineville, Or
Replied

@Lioneil Guevarra

Same with me man

User Stats

138
Posts
102
Votes
Ryan Herting
  • Lender
  • Philadelphia, PA
102
Votes |
138
Posts
Ryan Herting
  • Lender
  • Philadelphia, PA
Replied

@Patrick Flanagan,

First, it’s important to know who actually rents out travel nurse housing. Sometimes, the agency rents the housing. Other times, the travel nurse rents the property. Typically, this choice is left to the travel nurse.

Overall, this is what travel nurses typically look for in housing:

  1. Provide lease terms of 3 months or less
  2. Month-to-month lease terms are highly desirable
  3. Furnish your property
  4. Provide utilities, cable and WIFI. Roll the cost into the price.
  5. Price your property inline with normal market values.

Also, this website, hands down, provides the best information on travel nurses https://www.thegypsynurse.com/... to always be aware of when renting to travel nurses:

Length of Stay

Travel nursing contracts typically last 13 weeks. Contracts can be both longer or shorter than 13 weeks. However, only a small percentage are over 13 weeks. Therefore, if you must lease your property for longer than that, then travel nursing is not the right market for you.

Contract Cancellations

Additionally, hospitals can cancel travel nursing contracts for any number of reasons. Moreover, travel nurses are away from home so they may come across any number of reasons to cancel a contract early. This is simply the nature of remote contract work.

Furnishings

The property should always be furnished down to the "forks" I like to say.

Utilities, Cable and WIFI

Travel nurses strongly prefer properties that provide utilities, cable and WIFI. Setting this up for them would be a hedache

Price

Travel nurses typically avoid properties that charge high premium prices for short-term stays but, you can certainly factor in the cost of furniture, utilities, cable and WIFI. Travel nurses expect to pay extra for those services.

Hope this was helpful!

User Stats

261
Posts
166
Votes
Patrick Flanagan
  • Property Manager
  • Prineville, Or
166
Votes |
261
Posts
Patrick Flanagan
  • Property Manager
  • Prineville, Or
Replied

@Ryan Herting

Wow Ryan this was extremely helpful!!

Thank uou

User Stats

138
Posts
102
Votes
Ryan Herting
  • Lender
  • Philadelphia, PA
102
Votes |
138
Posts
Ryan Herting
  • Lender
  • Philadelphia, PA
Replied

@Patrick Flanagan,

My partner at my company has worked in the space and has taught me about it, being that my company lends to short term property owners. I personally don't have these types of units. 

I would definitely recommend looking into the demand for travel nurses for your area because there is a lot of turnover.   

User Stats

13
Posts
7
Votes
Angie Tonini-Rogers
Pro Member
  • Realtor
  • Louisville, KY
7
Votes |
13
Posts
Angie Tonini-Rogers
Pro Member
  • Realtor
  • Louisville, KY
Replied

Hi! Thanks for the info on furnishedfinder! Does anyone know if they allow cohosting? 

  • Angie Tonini-Rogers
  • BiggerPockets logo
    Join Our Private Community for Passive Investors
    |
    BiggerPockets
    Get first-hand insights and real sponsor reviews from other investors

    User Stats

    13
    Posts
    7
    Votes
    Angie Tonini-Rogers
    Pro Member
    • Realtor
    • Louisville, KY
    7
    Votes |
    13
    Posts
    Angie Tonini-Rogers
    Pro Member
    • Realtor
    • Louisville, KY
    Replied

    @Patrick Flanagan darkening curtains and blinds are great for nurses regardless of shifts they work. Quiet spaces also

    So they can rest after long 12-14 hour shifts. Most nurses work 4-12 hr shifts on their 8-13 week assignments so they wanna sleep when they’re off. 

    Single Family homes would be comfortable and quiet for sure & some Nurses travel with their pet friend. Also some nurses travel with their friends for assignments so a 2 Or 3 bedroom house could go for more if you rent a “room” To each nurse in their “group”. 

  • Angie Tonini-Rogers
  • User Stats

    9
    Posts
    2
    Votes
    Erik Spell
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Pinellas Park, FL
    2
    Votes |
    9
    Posts
    Erik Spell
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Pinellas Park, FL
    Replied

    @Patrick Flanagan I'm a little late to the party but I will say that I've had a studio apartment rented by travel nurses for 2+ years and they are excellent renters!  Clean, quiet, easy to manage and honest.  They will also pay a premium for their place as well.  The biggest challenge I've faced is background checks and lease agreement dilemmas - with a non-short term rental but also not a full 6/12 month lease, some have been a bit resistant to paying for a background check.  In building relationships with them, I've learned that most don't ask but that seems a bit too risky.  I've been accepting a contract to support in the interim as they do get background checked before hire and this has been a little easier even if they will take a photo, not expose their pay, etc.  I just need to know they aren't criminals :-)  Hope this helps.  

    User Stats

    104
    Posts
    30
    Votes
    Julie Williams
    • New to Real Estate
    30
    Votes |
    104
    Posts
    Julie Williams
    • New to Real Estate
    Replied

    Everyone knows that mutts are better than purebreds. And psychotics...offensive...both to the nurses and to people who are psychotic.