CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for offices of real estate agents and brokers in District of Columbia
352 offices of real estate agents and brokers operated in District of Columbia in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 352CBP 2023
- Employees
- 2,483mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 50.1U.S. 48.2
- State rank
- 49th of 51by count
Offices of real estate agents and brokers in District of Columbia by the numbers
The Census Bureau counted 352 offices of real estate agents and brokers in District of Columbia in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 531210). They employed 2,483 people in mid-March and reported $296.7 million in annual payroll. That is the 49th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Offices of real estate agents and brokers make up 1.5% of the 23,801 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) District of Columbia has 50.1 offices of real estate agents and brokers, 4.0% above the national rate of 48.2. The average establishment has 7.1 employees against 2.4 nationally. Payroll per employee is $119,474, 51.1% above the U.S. figure of $79,090.
| Measure | District of Columbia | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 352 | 163,894 |
| Mid-March employees | 2,483 | 395,264 |
| Annual payroll | $296,654,000 (moderate noise) | $31,261,611,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 7.1 | 2.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $119,474 | $79,090 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 50.1 | 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.
Offices of real estate agents and brokers by metro area in District of Columbia
Census published real estate office counts for 1 metro or micropolitan area that include part of District of Columbia. The largest is Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV, with 2,873 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans).
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | 2,873 | 9,168 | 44.6 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at offices of real estate agents and brokers in District of Columbia
83.4% of District of Columbia's offices of real estate agents and brokers with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 92.2% nationally. 92.8% had fewer than ten. That is the size of team where a missed call usually means nobody was free, not that nobody was on staff.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 291 | 83.4% | 92.2% |
| 5–9 employees | 33 | 9.5% | 4.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 13 | 3.7% | 1.7% |
| 20–49 employees | 8 | 2.3% | 0.8% |
| 50 or more employees | 4 | 1.1% | 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.
What offices of real estate agents and brokers in District of Columbia use the phone for
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.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for offices of real estate agents and brokers in District of Columbia:
- A seller calls to ask about a market valuation.
- A lender calls about a buyer's financing.
- Another agent calls to schedule a showing.
After-hours calls
Buyers and sellers call evenings and weekends, so a quick callback or text reply often decides who gets the business.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
What a phone system costs a real estate office in District of Columbia
Offices of real estate agents and brokers in District of Columbia average 7.1 employees, so the comparison uses a 7-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $174.65 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $210.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 7 people cost $139.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $852. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $139.00 | $1,668.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $133.00 | $1,596.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $161.00 | $1,932.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $174.65 | $2,095.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $189.00 | $2,268.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $210.00 | $2,520.00 |
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 District of Columbia
District of Columbia has 2 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your buyers and sellers know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 202 | 784 | Eastern | 1947 | 771 |
| 771 | 71 | Eastern | 2021 | 202 |
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 offices of real estate agents and brokers in District of Columbia
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 District of Columbia, 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 in District of Columbia?
352 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 2,483 people in mid-March.
Which District of Columbia metro area has the most offices of real estate agents and brokers?
Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV, with 2,873 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 7-person real estate office?
$210.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $174.65 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $139.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a District of Columbia 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.