CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for offices of real estate agents and brokers in Athens, GA
Offices of real estate agents and brokers in the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area: 145 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 2-person team.
- Establishments
- 145CBP 2023
- Employees
- 248mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 64.8U.S. 48.2
- Rank
- 155th of 885areas by count
How many offices of real estate agents and brokers are in Athens, GA?
There were 145 offices of real estate agents and brokers in the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 531210, Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers). They employed 248 people in mid-March and paid $12.5 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 155th out of 885 areas with published figures for offices of real estate agents and brokers.
Measured against its 224,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 64.8 offices of real estate agents and brokers per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 48.2, so Athens, GA is 34.5% above the national figure. The average establishment here has 1.7 employees, compared with 2.4 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $50,214, 36.5% below the national $79,090.
| Measure | Athens, GA | Georgia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 145 | 6,227 | 163,894 |
| Mid-March employees | 248 (moderate noise) | 13,754 (moderate noise) | 395,264 |
| Annual payroll | $12,453,000 | $1,120,700,000 | $31,261,611,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 1.7 | 2.2 | 2.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $50,214 | $81,482 | $79,090 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 64.8 | 55.7 | 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.
Team sizes at offices of real estate agents and brokers in Athens, GA
Of the offices of real estate agents and brokers in Athens, GA that had employees in March 2023, 94.4% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 92.2%). 100.0% had fewer than ten. Small teams usually share the phone: the person who answers is often also serving a customer or doing the job, which is when calls get missed.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 135 | 94.4% | 92.2% |
| 5–9 employees | 8 | 5.6% | 4.9% |
| 10–19 employees | not published | — | 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 Athens, GA
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 Athens, GA as much as anywhere.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for offices of real estate agents and brokers in Athens, GA:
- Another agent calls to schedule a showing.
- The agent calls a buyer back after an open house.
- A buyer calls about a listing they saw online.
Texting buyers and sellers
Agents text showing confirmations, offer updates and listing links.
Texts sent from a local business number in Athens, GA have to be registered with carriers first (10DLC); on Callata that is a one-time $49 fee, after which the whole team can text from the shared number.
What a phone system costs a real estate office in Athens, GA
The average real estate office in Athens, GA has 1.7 employees, so a 2-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 2 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $60.00 a month and 2 on Ooma Office Pro cost $49.90. Callata costs $99.00 a month ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), so at this team size both per-seat plans are cheaper; Callata drops below them from 4 users.
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.
Local area codes for offices of real estate agents and brokers in Athens, GA
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 706 has the most, with 21 of 36 exchanges (58%). A local number lets buyers and sellers in Athens, GA call without dialing out of area. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, and which numbers are open in an area code depends on carrier inventory when you choose.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 706 | 21 | Eastern | 1992 | 762 |
| 762 | 15 | Eastern | 2006 | 706 |
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.
Setting up Callata for a real estate office in Athens, GA
Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in Athens, GA 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 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 Athens, GA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 145 offices of real estate agents and brokers in the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area in 2023. They employed 248 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 Athens, GA use?
Area code 706 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 762. 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.