CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for offices of real estate agents and brokers in Ames, IA
Offices of real estate agents and brokers in the Ames, IA metro area: 70 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 2-person team.
- Establishments
- 70CBP 2023
- Employees
- 144mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 54.2U.S. 48.2
- Rank
- 249th of 885areas by count
The real estate office market in Ames, IA
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 70 establishments classified as Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (NAICS 531210) in the Ames, IA metro area. Together they reported 144 mid-March employees and $7,071,000 of payroll for the year. That ranks 249th of the 885 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 129,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 54.2 offices of real estate agents and brokers per 100,000 people, 12.4% above the national rate of 48.2. Establishments average 2.1 employees, 14.7% below the U.S. average of 2.4. Payroll per employee comes to $49,104, 37.9% below the national $79,090.
| Measure | Ames, IA | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 70 | 1,195 | 163,894 |
| Mid-March employees | 144 (moderate noise) | 2,293 (moderate noise) | 395,264 |
| Annual payroll | $7,071,000 | $133,605,000 | $31,261,611,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 2.1 | 1.9 | 2.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $49,104 | $58,266 | $79,090 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 54.2 | 36.9 | 48.2 |
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.
How big offices of real estate agents and brokers in Ames, IA are
Of the offices of real estate agents and brokers in Ames, IA that had employees in March 2023, 90.0% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 92.2%). 95.7% had fewer than ten. When a business has only a few people, whoever is free answers the phone, and calls that arrive while everyone is busy go to voicemail unless they are routed somewhere else.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 63 | 90.0% | 92.2% |
| 5–9 employees | 4 | 5.7% | 4.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 3 | 4.3% | 1.7% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 0.8% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 0.4% |
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 offices of real estate agents and brokers in Ames, IA
Real estate agents work on their cell phones from showings and open houses, and a missed call from a buyer can go to another agent. A business number that rings their cell, and that stays with the brokerage, keeps leads in one place. That holds for offices of real estate agents and brokers in Ames, IA as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to offices of real estate agents and brokers in Ames, IA:
- The agent calls a buyer back after an open house.
- A lender calls about a buyer's financing.
- Another agent calls to schedule a showing.
When nobody can pick up
Buyers and sellers call evenings and weekends, so a quick callback or text reply often decides who gets the business.
Callata transcribes voicemail and triages it for urgency, so the first callback in the morning can go to the caller who needs it most.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for offices of real estate agents and brokers in Ames, IA
The average real estate office in Ames, IA has 2.1 employees, so a 2-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $49.90 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $60.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata is $99.00 a month with 5 users included, which is more than either per-seat plan for 2 people; it becomes the lower price at 4 users or more.
At this team size the per-seat plans cost less than Callata's $99 base price, which already covers 5 users; Callata becomes the lower price from 4 users.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $99.00 | $1,188.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $38.00 | $456.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $46.00 | $552.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $49.90 | $598.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $54.00 | $648.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $60.00 | $720.00 |
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.
Which area code to use in Ames, IA
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 515 has the most, with 81 of 86 exchanges (94%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your buyers and sellers recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 515 | 81 | Central | 1947 | none |
| 641 | 5 | Central | 2000 | none |
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.
What offices of real estate agents and brokers in Ames, IA get with Callata
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
If you already have a number in Ames, IA, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Marketing calls and texts to prospects require consent, and numbers on do-not-call lists must be respected.
Frequently asked questions
How many offices of real estate agents and brokers are there in Ames, IA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 70 offices of real estate agents and brokers in the Ames, IA metro area in 2023. They employed 144 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 2-person real estate office?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 2 users cost $60.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $49.90 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $99.00.
What area code should a real estate office in Ames, IA use?
Area code 515 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 641. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a real estate office?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute. Marketing calls and texts to prospects require consent, and numbers on do-not-call lists must be respected.