Finding your own Housing during a MLS Contract
Before you sign a contract you will have to decide if you are getting a government stipend to help you out with housing or letting the agency or sometimes even the hospital find housing for you.
Some recruiting websites will list how much you would be making for each contract. This is one of the things I use to determine where I am going along with a few other factors. This number listed includes the government stipend. If you email your recruiter they will give you the breakdown of that contract (base pay, housing stipend, meals stipend) and you can decide from there (and based on the contracts location) if you are finding out your own housing or use housing provided.
Using the housing provided is easier and saves you some time and hassle, but definitely not money. If you ask your recruiter to find you housing they keep the entirety of the housing stipend even if they do not spend the entire amount, and if you want a fancier place than what the stipend would allow you may be paying the extras.
While if you find your own housing you could be pocketing a little of the stipend for yourself. Remember this stipend, along with your paycheck is WEEKLY, not monthly!
Now, if you have made your decision lets talk about the websites I use to look up housing options.
Websites for furnished places to live!
Remember you will only be renting a place for a short period of time as you move with your job so you will need to pack light and not bring a U-Hull everywhere you go. That means you will need a furnished place.
The best website I have come across for this is called FurnishedFinders.com
Using Furnished Finders you can look up what furnished places are available in the town or city you will be living in. They even have an area that shows the approximate miles for nearby hospitals for each listing.
Another option that may be a little pricey is AirBnB.com
I check on this website for options and my sister (a travel nurse) has used it in finding housing before, but I personally usually find alternative options.
On both of these websites you can find rooms, apartments, or entire units/houses to rent depending on your need. Hotels (like Extended Stay) also an option and may even give you a discount if you are staying with them multiple months. For this you would have to chat with them on the phone to make the arrangements. But no matter what you are looking for check out the area to see what is in the are and if it a safe place to live. You need to prioritize your safety over cost because theft and vandals will not save you money in the long run.
~Beware traveling with pets will limit your options when finding a place.
Housing Alternatives
RV’s have always be an easy way to travel on the road and keeping all of your belongs with you, but don’t forget to have a primary residence different from this for you to be safe from the IRS.
RV’s make it easy if you are traveling with children or pets. You will have to find a place to park your RV, usually NOT right in front of the hospital, though I have seen it happen. RV parks charge a price for the land, and then you will have to pay additional for water and sewage hookup.
Living on a boat would be really interesting for a contract, for me at least. I don’t think I would be able to live permanently on a boat (It would also limit where I could travel on it) but if you have any information on it I would be glad to hear.
How do you find housing?
