CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in North Carolina
185 mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers operated in North Carolina in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 185CBP 2023
- Employees
- 1,434mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 1.7U.S. 2.9
- State rank
- 14th of 51by count
How many mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers operate in North Carolina
The Census Bureau counted 185 mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in North Carolina in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 522310). They employed 1,434 people in mid-March and reported $150.9 million in annual payroll. That is the 14th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers make up 0.07% of the 258,169 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) North Carolina has 1.7 mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers, 41.8% below the national rate of 2.9. The average establishment has 7.8 employees against 5.6 nationally. Payroll per employee is $105,237, 17.7% above the U.S. figure of $89,382.
| Measure | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 185 | 9,792 |
| Mid-March employees | 1,434 | 54,952 |
| Annual payroll | $150,910,000 (moderate noise) | $4,911,723,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 7.8 | 5.6 |
| Payroll per employee | $105,237 | $89,382 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 1.7 | 2.9 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers by metro area in North Carolina
Census published mortgage brokerage counts for 9 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of North Carolina. The largest is Charlotte, NC-SC, with 80 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 51% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC-SC | 80 | 1,305 | 2.8 |
| Virginia Beach, VA-NC | 67 | 181 | 3.7 |
| Raleigh, NC | 46 | 219 | 2.9 |
| Wilmington, NC | 17 | 90 | 3.5 |
| Durham, NC | 11 | — | 1.8 |
| Asheville, NC | 8 | — | 1.9 |
| Greensboro, NC | 6 | — | 0.7 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 4 | — | 1.0 |
| Hickory, NC | 3 | 7 | 0.8 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in North Carolina
75.8% of North Carolina's mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 81.5% nationally. 86.8% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 138 | 75.8% | 81.5% |
| 5–9 employees | 20 | 11.0% | 10.6% |
| 10–19 employees | 19 | 10.4% | 4.5% |
| 20–49 employees | 5 | 2.7% | 2.2% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 1.2% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Why the phone matters for mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in North Carolina
Loan brokers live on responsiveness: borrowers call while house hunting, and agents call to check on approvals before offers. Calls missed during a rate-sensitive moment can cost a deal.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in North Carolina:
- The broker calls a borrower for missing documents.
- A borrower calls to ask about locking a rate.
- An appraiser calls to schedule access to a property.
Texting borrowers
Brokers text document checklists and status updates to borrowers and agents.
Texting from a local number in North Carolina requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
What a phone system costs a mortgage brokerage in North Carolina
Mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in North Carolina average 7.8 employees, so the comparison uses an 8-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $199.60 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $240.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $159.00 a month for 8 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $972 less than RingCentral for a mortgage brokerage in North Carolina of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $159.00 | $1,908.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $152.00 | $1,824.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $184.00 | $2,208.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $199.60 | $2,395.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $216.00 | $2,592.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $240.00 | $2,880.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Area codes in North Carolina
North Carolina has 10 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a mortgage brokerage can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 910 | 785 | Eastern | 1993 | 472 |
| 336 | 783 | Eastern | 1997 | 743 |
| 704 | 782 | Eastern | 1947 | 980 |
| 919 | 781 | Eastern | 1954 | 984 |
| 828 | 724 | Eastern | 1998 | none |
| 252 | 695 | Eastern | 1998 | none |
| 980 | 463 | Eastern | 2001 | 704 |
| 984 | 295 | Eastern | 2012 | 919 |
| 743 | 160 | Eastern | 2016 | 336 |
| 472 | 106 | Eastern | 2022 | 910 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in North Carolina
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in North Carolina is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Marketing calls and texts require consent, and financial details should not be sent by text.
Frequently asked questions
How many mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers are in North Carolina?
185 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 1,434 people in mid-March.
Which North Carolina metro area has the most mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers?
Charlotte, NC-SC, with 80 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost an 8-person mortgage brokerage?
$240.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $199.60 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $159.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a North Carolina number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.