Business phone system for offices of real estate agents and brokers in Minnesota

How many offices of real estate agents and brokers operate in Minnesota

The Census Bureau counted 3,247 offices of real estate agents and brokers in Minnesota in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 531210). They employed 6,341 people in mid-March and reported $530.4 million in annual payroll. That is the 14th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Offices of real estate agents and brokers make up 2.1% of the 154,455 business establishments in the state.

Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Minnesota has 56.0 offices of real estate agents and brokers, 16.3% above the national rate of 48.2. The average establishment has 2.0 employees against 2.4 nationally. Payroll per employee is $83,645, 5.8% above the U.S. figure of $79,090.

Offices of real estate agents and brokers by metro area in Minnesota

Census published real estate office counts for 26 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Minnesota. The largest is Minneapolis, MN-WI, with 2,609 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 15% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.

Team sizes at offices of real estate agents and brokers in Minnesota

94.1% of Minnesota's offices of real estate agents and brokers with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 92.2% nationally. 97.7% 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.

Calls a real estate office in Minnesota has to catch

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.

A few of the calls that come in to offices of real estate agents and brokers in Minnesota:

• The agent calls a buyer back after an open house.
• Another agent calls to schedule a showing.
• A seller calls to ask about a market valuation.

Business texting for offices of real estate agents and brokers

Agents text showing confirmations, offer updates and listing links.

Texting from a local number in Minnesota requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.

Phone system pricing for a 2-person real estate office

Offices of real estate agents and brokers in Minnesota average 2.0 employees, so the comparison uses a 2-person team. 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 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.

Area codes in Minnesota

Minnesota has 8 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a real estate office can hold a number in more than one of them.

How Callata works for offices of real estate agents and brokers in Minnesota

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.

Porting a number you already use in Minnesota 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.