How to Easily Find Travel Nurse Housing in Michigan

Regardless of which state you choose a travel contract in, your income will most likely be more significant than a staff nursing salary. On average, staff nurses in Michigan make $1,797 weekly, which depends on location, specialty, hours, and employer. Travel nurses working in Michigan earn an average of $2,242 weekly. Again, this depends on your site, specialty, hours, and employer. If you are willing to live a more rural lifestyle in the Upper Peninsula, travel nurses make as much as $2,605 weekly in Marquette! As a travel nurse, your yearly salary will increase to $122,551 versus $98,242 as a staff nurse.  

Now that you have an idea of how much you will be bringing home each week, you must create your budget for your Michigan travel nurse housing costs. Additionally, you will need to decide if you are going to live in housing provided by your agency or if you are going to receive a housing stipend.  

So you signed on the dotted line and are headed to a travel nurse assignment in Michigan. The next big task is to decide where to live. This decision is based on many factors, like how much space you need and how long you need. There are several different options when looking for short-term housing in Michigan. Travel nurses in Michigan typically choose one of the following housing options:

1. Extended Stay Hotels

Due to the amount of space you will have in a hotel room, this option is best for travel nurses traveling alone or a couple traveling together. Utilizing an extended-stay hotel provides housekeeping and laundry service for your room linens. You may also have laundry services for your personal items and onsite dining. An obvious drawback of extended-stay hotels is the lack of space and kitchen amenities, so prepare to dine out often if you choose this Michigan travel nurse housing option.

2. Room Rentals

Like extended-stay hotels, a room rental is exactly how it sounds. You would be renting a room in someone's house, townhouse, condo, or apartment. Most often, you have access to common areas like the living space and the kitchen, but not always. Clarify with the owner what is included in the Michigan travel nurse housing room rental before signing on the dotted line. This housing choice is excellent for travel nurses who are traveling alone and do not mind sharing space.  

3. Apartment or Condo Rentals

If you are looking for more space or privacy, an apartment or condo rental is the better option. This is a lucrative housing choice, especially if you have a longer contract or multiple contracts in the same area. If you have a shorter contract, finding a short-term apartment rental may be challenging unless you are interested in sub-letting your apartment or condo. Be sure to discuss with your complex that sub-leases are allowed if necessary.  

4. House Rentals  

If you are traveling as a family or with other nurses, a Michigan travel nurse house rental is something to consider. House rentals do have some challenges and considerations. Typically, rental homes are located further away from hospital assignments. Make sure you have appropriate transportation available. Additionally, some home rentals require that you care for the grounds, clarify the responsibilities prior to taking on any home rentals.  

There is a wide range of rental housing costs when looking for a place to live in Michigan. Depending on the location, a studio rental can cost anywhere from $484 to $1,029 per month. If you are looking for more space and want at least one bedroom in your rental, the typical monthly cost is $557-$1043. Renting a space that offers two or more bedrooms will cost, on average, $734-$1892 monthly.  

These average costs are typical for a year-long contract; short-term contracts can be more expensive and incur more fees. Make sure you account for any additional fees when looking for short-term travel nurse housing in Michigan. Even with additional costs, most housing options are affordable in the state, allowing you to have extra funds to explore while on assignment.  

Finding a short-term rental will most likely cost more than if you were to sign a full-year lease, but several other factors may affect your ability to find affordable travel nurse housing in Michigan. Some considerations you should make when looking at your housing budget include the following:

• The length of your stay
• The type and size of accommodation that you choose
• What time of year you need your rental
• What city you decide to rent in
• What amenities you choose for your rental  
• Whether you choose a housing service or stipend

Michigan has a significant summer tourism market, if you are trying to find rental during the summer months in Northern Michigan or other waterfront towns, you may face challenges finding rentals, and you will most likely pay more for your extended stay rental. So, expect to pay more in areas like Traverse City, Holland, or Petoskey.  

Additionally, you can expect to pay more if you are looking for a fully furnished rental, in-unit laundry, on-site gym, or pool. Make a list of must-have amenities when searching for your rental and consider them when creating your rental budget. You may have to be flexible with your must-haves to ensure you aren’t just working to live.  

If you use agency-placed housing in Michigan, you will use your travel organization’s internal housing department to find a place to stay. The benefit of working with agency-placed housing is that you will most likely get a better price and not have to pay any money upfront. Most agencies will get a long-term rental and then rotate travel nurses in and out of the rental, which negates the initial costs and safeguards you from any cancellation fees you may face if your contract ends early. The downfall of using agency-placed housing is that you do not have control over exactly where you live and how much time you get to move in and out of your rental.  

Choosing the stipend pay option also has its benefits and disadvantages. If you decide to receive stipend pay, you are responsible for finding and booking your Michigan travel nurse housing from start to finish. You will also be liable for all costs of your lodging. However, you can choose where you live and how long you will give yourself to move in and out of the rental. Additionally, if your housing costs less than the stipend, you can pocket the extra for other adventures. There is a caveat with stipend pay, however. If you do not have a tax home, that is, a permanent address (not a P.O. Box), your stipend payments will be taxed like it is income.  

Depending on what type of rental you are looking for, there are several places you can look to see what options are available to you. To avoid getting overwhelmed, deciding what type of rental you are looking for is important before searching for specific properties. Advantis Medical offers the option to find Michigan travel nurse housing for you, so if you feel overwhelmed, contact your agent and discuss your options. If you want to find something independently, the following services can point you in the right direction.

1. Airbnb

Airbnb is a vacation and condo rental site that offers long-term rental options. Depending on the time of year you are looking for a rental, this may not be the most affordable option, as most Airbnb properties are rented out for a weekend or a week at a time. This option could be lucrative during off-peak rental seasons as owners may be more flexible with costs due to decreased interest.  

2. Apartments.com

If you are simply looking for an apartment near your hospital, apartments.com is for you. This rental search engine allows you to look for available apartments, condos, houses, and townhouses for rent in Michigan. You can also streamline your search with how much space you need and what amenities you absolutely need.  

3. Homestay.com

Are you looking to rent a room in someone’s home or apartment while traveling and don’t know where to look? Homestay.com is a hosting site that allows you to rent a spare room in someone’s home. Depending on the listing, they may offer meals or access to the kitchen. Additionally, they may also provide a variety of amenities to accommodate the area.  

4. Travelnursehousing.com

If you are feeling overwhelmed and you are unsure what type of rental you are looking for, travelnurshousing.com is the website for you. It shows you travel nurse hotel, apartment, and house options in Michigan. You search by city and state, your rental window, and your max budget. Before clicking a listing, it highlights the amenities available or if a minimum rental duration is required.  

If you have been considering a career shift to travel nursing, now is the time to dive in! If you feel overwhelmed with the process, Advantis Medical has some excellent nursing opportunities in Michigan!

Browse exclusive travel job openings from the #1 rated travel nurse agency. You can choose to work with one of our dedicated Pro Recruiters and receive top-notch, white-glove service, or express your interest in specific jobs directly on our individual job pages.  Start your next adventure today by searching for travel nurse jobs in Michigan.