Guides · 6 min read
Can Travel Nurses Get a Mortgage? How Lenders Count Contracts and Stipends
By Christian Alvarez, NMLS #374859 · Published 2026-10-29
Yes. Travel nurses buy homes all the time. It just takes a lender who understands how your pay works, because a travel contract looks very different from a staff nurse pay stub.
What lenders want to see
History in nursing. Lenders look at your history in the profession, not at one employer. Two years as a nurse, even across several agencies and hospitals, is usually what they want.
Steady work. Short breaks between contracts are normal. Longer gaps may need a quick explanation letter. What matters is a pattern of working consistently.
Documented income. Your W2s, tax returns, current contract and recent pay stubs show what you actually earn.
The stipend question
This is where most travel nurses get surprised. Travel pay is usually split into a taxable hourly wage and tax free housing and meal stipends. Most lenders count the taxable wages. Tax free stipends are usually treated as reimbursement for expenses on the road, so they often don't count as income, and once you buy a home near your base they may go away anyway.
Some programs and lenders can count part of a recurring stipend with enough history, so this is worth reviewing case by case. Bring me your contracts and we'll figure out your real qualifying number before you shop.
Per diem and PRN shifts
Per diem or PRN income can count with about a two year history. If you have a staff job plus per diem shifts, both may count.
Going from travel to staff?
If you're taking a staff position near where you want to buy, your new salary can usually count right away with an offer letter, since you're staying in the same line of work. That can actually make qualifying easier.
What to have ready
- Two years of W2s and tax returns
- Your current contract and the one before it
- Your most recent 30 days of pay stubs
- A short note explaining any gap longer than a month or two
Nurses who work with me also get savings at closing through Keys for Those Who Serve.
Sources: Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-3.1-01. General information, not legal or tax advice. Program rules can change.
Want real numbers for your situation?
I'll look at your pay, your goals and the programs that fit, then give you a fully underwritten approval. Plus savings at closing through Keys for Those Who Serve.