Mortgages For Travel Nurses | 2022 Home Buying Guide (2024)

How to get a mortgage for travel nurses

Overtime. Night shift differential. Employment gaps. These are all things your mortgage lender may have a hard time with. As a travel nurse, employment gaps are the norm, and proving your true income to a mortgage lender can be tricky.

Lenders tend to like “inside-the-box applicants”: the kind that work nine to five, make the same amount each month, and are never between jobs. But that’s just not a reality for the typical travel nurse — and that’s okay.

It’s possible to get approved for a mortgage despite the unique challenges that travel nurses face when trying to buy a home. Here are some special mortgages for travel nurses and strategies you can use to get your application approved.

In this article (Skip to…)

  • Overcoming obstacles
  • How to get approved
  • Housing programs
  • Mortgage options
  • Is buying worth it?
  • Managing student debt
  • Check your eligibility

This article was created in collaboration with former travel nurse recruitment manager and current content and social media director at Nurse.org, Angelina Gibson.

Overcoming mortgage obstacles as a travel nurse

As a travel nurse, you may be wondering if you’ll ever qualify for a mortgage. A loan officer may have told you no due to a lack of “stable income.” Or you may know a colleague who has gone through that experience.

Below are common obstacles travel RNs face and how you can deal with them.

1. Unstable employment history

Loan officers often don’t understand the nature of a travel nurse’s work. On paper, it might appear to a lender that you are a contract employee or “job-hopper” because your contracts are typically only 13 weeks long and you move from agency to agency.

Your work history appears quite stable to you. You can pick up another contract as soon as the previous one is done. If all else fails, you’ll pick up per diem work or (gasp!) become a staff nurse. But that’s not how the lender sees it.

Keep in mind the kind of applicants lenders like to see: full-time, salaried employees with stable income and no employer changes. That’s just not a realistic standard for travel nurses, and that’s okay.

Here’s how you can get qualified for a mortgage loan despite your “unstable” situation:

  1. Write a letter of explanation. Describe the nature of travel nursing. Add details such as why your specialty is in high demand and that there is virtually no shortage of contracts you can take. Explain why travel nurses like yourself are extremely sought-after. “This is probably your strongest option, and you shouldn’t have any problems provided you have documentation,” says Jon Meyer, The Mortgage Reports loan expert and licensed MLO
  2. Get two years of travel nursing under your belt. History, history, history. This is what the lender wants to see. It’s tough to average three months of income. However, 12-24 months of travel nursing experience will give the lender more confidence in your ongoing earning potential
  3. Take a W2 assignment and stick with one agency if you're a new traveler. If you plan to start traveling, pick one agency to work for and make sure they pay you as a W-2 employee. A lender may still consider you non-self-employed if you are simply moving to another company
  4. Keep your paystubs, W-2s, and agency contact info. Your lender may need information from each of the agencies you’ve worked for. Keep all your pay statements and year-end documentation from each agency. Keep handy a contact name and number at the agency that is willing to complete a “verification of employment” for your past work, and even write you a letter regarding your previous history
  5. Use staff RN experience as part of your employment history. If you are a travel nurse, you will likely be considered self-employed. This is true even if you receive some W2 pay along with your 1099 (contract) pay. Lenders need a two-year history of self-employment to use the income to qualify. If you have been a travel nurse for less than two years, but at least one year, your previous staff nurse experience might help

Here’s what FHA guidelines say: “To be eligible for a mortgage loan, the individual must have at least two years of documented previous successful employment in the line of work in which he/she is self-employed, or in a related occupation.” (emphasis added). Conventional loans use a similar rule.

In short, you might be able to add your staff RN experience to your more recent travel RN experience to verify enough self-employed history. However, if you have been traveling for less than a year, you likely need to get at least 12 months of experience before you can qualify for a mortgage.

2. Employment gaps

Travel nurses may take long periods of time off between assignments. For example, you’ll work for six months, save money, then take 1-3 months off for leisure. That’s just part of the travel nurse lifestyle. Also, the time between one contract ending and your next contract could be 1-2 weeks.

Is this considered a “gap in employment” by a mortgage lender?

How long is a gap in employment?

That depends on the type of loan you’re getting.

FHA defines an “employment gap” as at least one month. Conventional loan regulator Fannie Mae doesn’t set a specific time, but says that lenders must look at the history of any variable income and determine if any gaps are consistent over time or longer than usual.

If longer than usual (or more than one month for FHA), you’ll need a letter explaining the time you had away from work.

What’s the “secret” to qualifying when you have employment gaps?

In a word, job history. You’ll need to build up at least 12 months, but preferably 24 months, of history as a travel nurse. There are a couple of reasons for this.

  • First, you need to prove how long a “typical” employment gap is
  • Second, the lender needs to average your income including any gaps and various pay rates. That also takes time

As mentioned in the previous section, get as much history as a travel nurse as you can. If you plan to become a travel nurse next year, but you also want to buy a house, you might consider starting to travel now.

Write a great letter of explanation

Mortgage lenders don’t know the ins and outs of the nursing industry, let alone the travel nursing industry. So write a detailed letter of explanation about how travel nursing works. Put it in context for the lender.

That letter can go a long way toward your approval. You could also request a letter from your recruiter or agency HR department. A letter on letterhead from the company explaining the travel nursing process will help your case.

3. Variable income

Travel nurse pay is seasonal and varies by contract and location.

For example, a travel nurse working in California will often make more than a nurse working in Florida. Additionally, hospitals will pay travel nurses more to work in Wisconsin during the winter. (No one wants to be stuck in a snowstorm.) There are also states where travel nurses like to work (Hawaii) just for the experience, and hospitals in these locations can pay lower because of the lifestyle.

Each individual contract is negotiated differently — agency by agency and hospital by hospital. But how do you explain all this to an underwriter when applying for a mortgage?

One thing lenders do understand is seasonable work and variable pay. Lots of industries — construction, agriculture, and others — are variable in nature. The key is getting enough history.

Get at least 12 months’ stable income history, but preferably 24 months, before applying for a mortgage. Keep everything: contracts, pay stubs, W2s, and offer letters. You can get approved if the lender can average out the variable and seasonable pay over a reasonable amount of time.

According to Fannie Mae, the nation’s lead mortgage rule maker, “Two or more years of receipt of a particular type of variable income is recommended; however, variable income that has been received for 12 to 24 months may be considered as acceptable income, as long as the borrower’s loan application demonstrates that there are positive factors that reasonably offset the shorter income history.”

So if you have at least a year under your belt, it can’t hurt to apply for a home loan.

4. Taxable and non-taxable income

Most travel nurses receive their pay in the form of taxable, plus non-taxed income.

The non-taxed portion of their pay is per diem pay. Per diems are reimbursements for meals, housing, travel, and incidentals while they are working away from their “tax home,” an IRS term meaning where they live when they’re not traveling for work.

Per diem income is not considered by the IRS to be income or compensation.

However, travel nursing agencies do include this pay on the nurse’s paycheck. And, many agencies bump up per diem pay, and pay lower rates for the actual work. This is advantageous for nurses at tax time, but not so much for when they apply for a mortgage.

A travel nurse’s pay may appear to a lender to be much lower than it actually is. This is why it is important for travel nurses to educate themselves on taxable/non-taxable pay. Per diems could be considered a liability.

Can per diem pay be used to qualify for a mortgage?

Fannie Mae and other rule-making agencies — like the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which oversees FHA — don’t address most per diem pay specifically. Therefore, some underwriters may be able to use it while others won’t. It’s up to each individual lender.

The fact that it doesn’t show up on tax returns doesn’t help. Typically, a lender uses tax returns to verify a stable income history. In any case, keep all your contracts, pay stubs, and any other paperwork that documents your pay structure.

One bright spot is around housing stipends. Fannie Mae states that you can use housing reimbursement as qualifying income if it has been received for the most recent 12 months and is likely to continue for three years.

Should you agree to receive non-taxable income?

Gibson says, “If I were giving advice to a travel nurse who wants to buy a home someday, I would say to take as much money as possible in taxable pay, rather than per diem. It’s just too much of a risk to work for two years, only to discover a lender can’t use all that income history.”

And if you’ve already got a history of high per diem pay? You might as well try to apply at a few lenders. They might say they can’t use the income to qualify. In that case, start negotiating lower per diem pay and higher base pay. Starting immediately will increase your average pay and help you qualify sooner.

If you’re really in a hurry to buy, you could take a staff nurse position. You can most likely use your pay structure to qualify after a few months of pay stubs, or in some cases even just an offer letter.

That may seem drastic, but mortgage rules do not state you can never change jobs again. Once your loan closes (and you feel comfortable with your new house payment), you are free to explore other job opportunities including travel nursing again.

How travel nurses can buy a house

The Mortgage Reports asked former travel nurse recruiter and current content director for Nurse.org, Angelina Gibson, for her advice to nurses looking to buy in the near future. Here’s what she had to say.

1. Save all travel nursing contracts

Keep physical copies of the contracts between yourself and your travel nursing agencies for all your travel nursing assignments.

Your broker will ask you to explain all gaps in employment and to also provide proof of consecutive assignments. It is also a good idea to keep copies of your contracts online in a cloud service like Dropbox or another digital format for easy access.

If you are able, save copies of your pay stubs. You should also be able to ask your agency for a copy of your deposits. Keep in mind that some agencies may not keep these records or they may not be readily accessible. Save yourself the hassle by keeping all your own records.

2. Avoid non-taxed stipends and low taxable income

If you’re planning to buy a home in the near future, do not accept travel nursing assignments with high non-taxed stipends and low taxable pay. Though it may be tempting at the time to accept an assignment offering a low taxable hourly rate and high non-taxed stipend, it will not be worth it in the long run. Especially if you have plans to purchase a home.

Why? Because non-taxed stipends are not considered wages by the IRS, your broker may not count the stipend as income. If your taxable hourly rate is too low, it may decrease the amount of your loan.

As a rule of thumb, I recommend rejecting assignments offering a taxable hourly rate of less than $39 per hour, the national average hourly pay for registered nurses.

3. Understand IRS tax guidelines for traveling/contract workers

Travel nurses are paid very differently than staff nurses. That’s because they travel for work and receive non-taxed stipends to help with housing and living expenses while they are away from work on assignment.

Why do travel nurses receive non-taxed stipends? Because they are duplicating expenses. This means that they are maintaining a tax-home residence while maintaining a temporary residence where they are working a travel nursing assignment.

The IRS considers non-taxed stipends reimbursements, not wages. As a travel nurse, it is up to you to understand why you are eligible for non-taxed stipends, and to make sure that you are paying the appropriate taxes when required.

Get acquainted with IRS publication 463 for additional information regarding travel, entertainment, gift, and car expenses.

4. Maintain a tax-home

If you are a travel nurse and are receiving non-taxed stipends, you must maintain a tax-home.

There are three requirements to establish and maintain a tax-home. Travel nurses must meet two out of three of the requirements to be eligible to receive non-taxed stipends. If you do not meet at least two of these requirements, you should not be receiving or accepting non-taxed stipends.

The requirements include:

  1. Maintain regular employment within the area of your tax home
  2. Maintain a permanent address within your tax home area. The permanent address must be a physical address, not a P.O. box. You must also maintain the residence while you are away for work. This includes paying the mortgage, handling repairs, and paying utility bills.
  3. Do not abandon your tax home. Travel nurses must return to their tax-home area about every 12 months to work (this helps maintain requirement no. 1.) We recommend working in your tax-home area for at least 30 days per year. Otherwise, the IRS may assume that you’ve abandoned your tax-home, in which case you are not eligible for non-taxed stipends because you are not duplicating expenses.

By understanding travel nurse taxes and the non-taxed stipend, you are setting yourself up for the best-case scenario for purchasing a home.

Special housing programs for travel nurses

Many nurses wonder if there are special home loan programs specifically for RNs. They may have heard of doctor loans and wonder if there are similar home purchase options for nurses.

There are two popular nationwide programs that provide home loans for nurses and other healthcare professionals: Nurse Next Door and Home for Heroes.

Nurse Next Door

The Nurse Next Door program is a home buyer assistance program that helps to match RN borrowers with the best mortgage, property, or aid program for their financial situation. According to the program’s website, “housing grants of up to $8,000 are available to ALL healthcare employees, including nurses, medical staff and doctors.”

The site further explains that borrowers may be eligible for down payment assistance of up to $10,681. You may also get reduced closing costs through the elimination of a home appraisal and other fees.

Homes for Heroes

Homes for Heroes is a nationwide housing program that aims to make home buying more affordable for first responders, teachers, military, and healthcare professionals.

The website says, “Most heroes save at least $3,000 when they buy or sell a home with us. When you add up the savings from real estate agents, loan officers, title companies, home inspectors and other everyday deals, the savings is way beyond what you’ll get from other national programs.”

Down payment assistance programs

Down payment assistance (DPA) programs offer grants and low-interest second mortgages to help healthcare professionals, firefighters, law enforcement, educators, and other first-time home buyers afford a house. The money you get can be used for your down payment and often closing costs, too.

There are thousands of DPAs nationwide and each is managed on a city, state, or county level. This guide will introduce you to DPAs in every state, and your real estate agent or Realtor should have additional information for programs near you.

Mortgage loan options for travel nurses

In addition to nurse home loans, standard loan types are worth looking into. Contrary to popular belief, no home loans today require a 20% down payment. The following popular loan types can all offer affordable financing to first-time home buyers.

Conventional loans

Also known as conforming loans, conventional mortgages are the most common home purchase loan available, and their rules are set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Some first-time home buyers may qualify with as little as 3% down.

While anything less than 20% down requires private mortgage insurance (PMI), conventional loans may still be advantageous even with that extra expense. Plus, you don’t have to save forever to make that huge down payment. These loans are best for borrowers with good credit and at least 3-5% down.

FHA loans

Backed by the Federal Housing Administration, FHA loans require just 3.5% down and are very flexible on employment gaps, changes in work history, and credit score. These are the go-to loans for first-time home buyers who don’t fit into the conventional loan “box” and require leniency on certain aspects of their financial situation.

USDA loans

Guaranteed by the United States Department of Agriculture, USDA loans may be the best-kept secret in mortgage finance. They require no down payment whatsoever and no ongoing mortgage insurance. But they do come with income limits, and you must purchase a house within an eligible rural area. Beyond those requirements, USDA loans are not that different than other home purchase loans.

VA loans

For nurses with military service in their backgrounds, VA loans may be the best mortgage option available. They require zero down and are lenient about credit scores and income types. These loans typically require a two-year history of active service or six years in the Reserves to be eligible.

Is it worth it to buy a home as a travel nurse?

One concern travel nurses have is what they will do with the home while you are gone on travel nurse assignments. Why pay all that money when you’re not there?

  • One option is that you can break even or even make money by using your home as a short-term rental while you are gone
  • You could also opt for a roommate (long-term renter) who looks after the house and provides ongoing passive income when you’re not home

These practices are allowed by mortgage rule-making agencies, to some extent. Just remember that you have to actually move into the home and live there while you are not traveling.

Most mortgage rules say you have to move into a home within 60 days of buying it. So make sure you can do that even if you have some extended contracts coming up.

If you plan to set up some short-term rentals, get familiar with Airbnb and consider hiring a property management company. You likely won’t want to be handling bookings and other details while working 12-hour shifts a few states away.

Many companies will manage your property for 10-20% of your rental fee. There are plenty of companies to choose from, but do your homework before selecting one. Make sure they provide the services you need, and aren’t too expensive. Check out Airdna’s list of recommended management companies.

Finding good renters as a travel nurse

Are you worried about renting your new home while you’re away on assignment? That’s understandable.

One option is to simply put up an ad in a travel nursing forum or Facebook group, and only rent to fellow travel nurses who will be in your area.

Because of a shared profession and online community, there’s instant trust and accountability between you. You are much less likely to get taken advantage of or incur damage to your new home.

Tips for buying a home with student loan debt

Many nurses — especially newer ones — have debt from college and nursing school. In fact, a lot of nurses are traveling to pay off debt because they make more money than if they worked on staff.

Staff nurses are dealing with high student loans now, too. Many hospitals are pushing for 4-year degrees for nurses. Nursing school is great, but its costs can affect a nurse’s debt-to-income ratio, or DTI.

What is DTI? It’s the relationship between income and debt. For instance, your DTI is 50% if you make $5,000 per month before taxes and have $2,500 in debt payments (student loans, auto loans, credit card payments).

Most underwriters want to see a DTI of 43% or less, including your future home payment. So it’s easy to see why $500, $700, or even $1,000 per month in student loan payments can hurt your chances of buying a home.

Tips for buying a house with a high DTI

Following are some strategies to work around student loans.

  • Pay off high-interest debt first. Don’t concentrate on your huge student loan balance. Pay off a car that has a high payment but a low balance. You want to eliminate as many high payments as possible, and a debt with $0 balance also comes with $0 payment
  • Have the lender calculate your payment correctly. Lenders will “hit” you with a student loan payment equal to the actual payment, or 1% of the balance if it’s a deferred loan or the actual payment is not otherwise calculable. If you are on an income-driven repayment plan, the lender can use that lower payment instead of what would be owed if not on the program
  • Remove debt payments paid by others. Are parents footing the tab for your student loan (or any other debt)? The lender can remove that from your DTI calculation if another party has been paying it for 12 consecutive months
  • Refinance your student loans. When it comes to debt, lenders only care about the payment, not the balance or repayment period. Reduce your student loan payment with a lower interest rate, longer loan term, or a combination of the two

Student loans are no joke if you’re trying to buy a house. Fortunately, there are ways to qualify despite high payments.

Are you ready to see if you qualify?

There are hurdles to overcome when buying a house as a nurse or travel nurse. That’s certain. But a home can be a great investment and a place to set down roots.

Remember: there’s no harm in applying for a mortgage. It won’t significantly hurt your credit score. And even if you are not approved, at least you’ll know what you need to do to get on the road to homeownership.

The information contained on The Mortgage Reports website is for informational purposes only and is not an advertisement for products offered by Full Beaker. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not reflect the policy or position of Full Beaker, its officers, parent, or affiliates.

Mortgages For Travel Nurses | 2022 Home Buying Guide (2024)

FAQs

Is it hard to get a house as a travel nurse? ›

Getting a Mortgage Can Be Challenging for Traveling Nurses

The 13-week contract looks to underwriters as having unsteady employment. The part of your compensation coming as stipends or travel reimbursements aren't seen on a W-2 form making your compensation look lower than it is.

How does a travel nurse qualify for a house? ›

The key is getting enough history. Get at least 12 months' stable income history, but preferably 24 months, before applying for a mortgage. Keep everything: contracts, pay stubs, W2s, and offer letters. You can get approved if the lender can average out the variable and seasonable pay over a reasonable amount of time.

Can travel nurses get FHA loans? ›

FHA Loans for Travel Nurses

They have less stringent requirements and are flexible on employment changes, credit scores, employment gaps, and down payments. You'll need a 3.5% to 10% home deposit to qualify for an FHA loan, making it a go-to option for travel nurses who can't secure conventional loans.

How much should I spend on housing as a travel nurse? ›

What is the Average Travel Nurse Housing Stipend? You'll see travel nurse housing stipends as low as $700 per month and as high as $5,000 per month. Housing stipends vary dramatically between regions. They also vary with bill rates.

How much can a nurse afford for a house? ›

According to Payscale, an entry-level RN makes $21.51 per hour. Not too shabby. A starting nurse could qualify for a home costing $200,000, assuming $350 per month in other debt payments, a 3.5% down payment, and an FHA loan at an interest rate of 3.75%. Related: See what you qualify for with our FHA loan calculator.

Can I get a mortgage as a bank nurse? ›

Can I get a mortgage as an agency nurse? For nurses whose sole employment is bank work through agencies there are lenders who will consider 100% of the agency income for the mortgage application, providing you can show a consistent track record of working and earning.

Does FHA allow stipend income? ›

Since stipend income only counts as a compensating factor for mortgage qualifying, you'll need a primary source of income to be eligible for the loan. These include: Regular salary/wages. Self-employment income.

Can a single nurse afford a house? ›

Can a Nurse Afford a Nice Home? Yes, most nurses should be able to afford a house. Given the average salary of a nurse ($73,300), you should be able to afford a house costing $200,000, assuming a down payment of 3.5% and a 30-year fixed-rate loan at 3.7%.

Where is the best place to get a mortgage? ›

Select's picks for the top five mortgage lenders
  • Best for lower credit scores: Rocket Mortgage.
  • Best for flexible down payment options: Chase Bank.
  • Best for no fees: Ally Bank.
  • Best for flexible loan options: PNC Bank.
  • Best for saving money: SoFi.
Oct 6, 2022

Can nurses live comfortably? ›

Nurses can live comfortably in California because it's one of the states with the highest demand for registered nurses. If you want to live comfortably in Cali, you need to know which cities have the highest cost of living and which types of nurses make the most money.

How do you save on travel nursing housing? ›

Travel Nurse Housing: 5 Tips to Save Money on Hotels & Housing
  1. Use a hotel booking site for Healthcare Travelers like Hotel Engine. Hotel Engine offers rates that frequently beat Kayak. ...
  2. Search for apartments for long term stays. ...
  3. Choose an Extended Stay Hotel. ...
  4. Join Loyalty Programs.
Jan 20, 2019

What is a tax-free stipend for travel nurses? ›

Travel nurse stipends, also known as tax-free money, are one of the many awesome benefits of travel nursing. These stipends cover duplicated living expenses like housing, travel, and meals. These stipends are not reported as taxable income as long as you are duplicating living expenses.

Do traveling nurses get free housing? ›

Housing provisions are one of the benefits offered by travel nurse agencies that can make the nursing assignment package attractive. There are generally two housing benefit options available to travel nurses: Agency-provided housing. Tax-free housing stipend.

Why are nurses in California paid so much? ›

High demand, the high cost of living and union power underlie the higher salaries of California's registered nurses. Burger said the nurse's union has also played a role in assuring that nurses have access to pension plans and that they retire with health benefits.

How much do travel nurses make? ›

Annual: The average annual salary for travel nurses also varies significantly. On average, they earn $117,490 with a starting salary of $78,430, rising to $170,680 as more experience is gained.

Do nurses make a lot in California? ›

California is the highest-paying state for nurses. So, it's no surprise that the highest-paying cities for nurses are located there too. After San Jose is San Francisco and the Bay Area, just to the north, where Registered Nurses earn an average of $151,640.

How much can a nurse borrow for a mortgage? ›

How much can nurses borrow for a mortgage? Most lenders use income multiples, varying between 3.5 - 5.5x your annual income, as a starting point to determine how much they are willing to lend.

Can I get a mortgage doing bank work? ›

It is very much possible to get a mortgage as a bank or agency nurse, and our advisers will help allay any concerns you might have about the way in which your pay is structured. Our specialist mortgage advisers will help you apply to the lenders that best understand bank and agency nurse work.

Do NHS workers get help to buy a house? ›

Help to Buy: Equity Loan (2021-2023)

Help to Buy isn't aimed solely at key workers but it is a popular choice for many NHS employees in England. A Help to Buy equity loan is provided by the government so that people can get onto the property ladder with saving just a 5% deposit.

Should you keep an apartment as a travel nurse? ›

There is no wrong answer. In the end, the choice between renting and owning your home is largely situational for each travel nurse. It will depend on how often you travel, how you view your permanent residence, your family, and your financial needs.

Can you rent out your house while travel nursing? ›

For new and experienced travelers alike. CHECK HERE to see if your travel nurse question has already been answered. Can I rent out my travel nurse tax home and still receive housing stipend? The short answer is YES.

Can a single nurse afford a house? ›

Can a Nurse Afford a Nice Home? Yes, most nurses should be able to afford a house. Given the average salary of a nurse ($73,300), you should be able to afford a house costing $200,000, assuming a down payment of 3.5% and a 30-year fixed-rate loan at 3.7%.

What do travel nurses do with their houses? ›

Travel nurses usually have a permanent residence that they maintain and pay rent/mortgage on. At the same time, when they work away from home, they'll also need to pay for their accommodation in that new location, whether it be a motel, an AirBnB, or even an RV!

Is travel nursing worth it without a tax home? ›

Without a tax home, everything will be taxed, whether it be your uniform, internet, cellular expenses, or housing. If a travel nurse earns $30,000 per year, he could end up paying more than one-third of his income in taxes and bills. I believe that it is not worth it without a tax home.

Do travel nurses pay for their own housing? ›

Most agencies offer travel nurses a housing stipend to cover their housing while on assignment. This is calculated as part of your compensation package.

Is renting to traveling nurses worth it? ›

Travel nurses make ideal tenants because they are reliable, trustworthy and they make it easy to get the most out of your rental property. In most cases, they have gone through an extensive background check to be eligible for work, so your risk of having to deal with an unruly tenant drops dramatically.

How much can you make hosting travel nurses? ›

Average Host Healthcare Travel Nurse weekly pay in the United States is approximately $3,027, which is 62% above the national average. Salary information comes from 24 data points collected directly from employees, users, and past and present job advertisements on Indeed in the past 36 months.

Is furnished Finder legit? ›

This is definitely a scam. After almost a year of paid listings, I have zero success renting a very desirable room in a highly desireable community. Don't buy into it.

How long do travel nurses stay in one place? ›

What Is the Length of a Typical Travel Nursing Assignment? The length of a travel nursing assignment varies depending on the facility. A travel nurse assignment can be as short as two weeks, but 6, 8, or 13-week positions are the most common.

Do healthcare workers get better mortgage rates? ›

Generally, a FHA home loan for healthcare workers will cost a home buyer more money over the life of the loan versus a conventional loan due to the higher interest rate and MIP costs. However, it still makes homeownership possible for someone with lower down payment funds or credit scores.

Do nurses make enough money live comfortably? ›

It turns out that nurses in California are the highest paid in the nation, yet their pay remains favorable when adjusted for cost of living. Despite being the second most expensive state to live in, it's the most lucrative state for nurses.

Why are nurses in California paid so much? ›

High demand, the high cost of living and union power underlie the higher salaries of California's registered nurses. Burger said the nurse's union has also played a role in assuring that nurses have access to pension plans and that they retire with health benefits.

What deductions can a travel nurse claim? ›

One of the biggest reasons Travel Nurses make more money than staff nurses are Travel Nursing Tax Deductions. The most prominent Travel Nurse Tax Deductions are Tax-Free Stipends for Housing, Meals & Incidentals, Travel Reimbursements and Professional Development Costs.

Do travel nurses pay taxes in two states? ›

Do travel nurses pay state income tax in both the state they reside and the state where they work? It depends on both your state of permanent residence and your state of employment. Some states have reciprocity agreements that dictate that travel nurses pay income tax to only one state, while others do not.

How do you duplicate expenses in travel nursing? ›

Travel Nurses actually have to prove that they are duplicating expenses. Essentially, they are paying for their tax home and paying for housing at their new temporary residence. The most common circumstance is renting both places or owning a home and renting your second residence.

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