CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for offices of real estate agents and brokers in Traverse City, MI
Offices of real estate agents and brokers in the Traverse City, MI metro area: 93 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 2-person team.
- Establishments
- 93CBP 2023
- Employees
- 178mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 59.4U.S. 48.2
- Rank
- 212th of 885areas by count
Offices of real estate agents and brokers in Traverse City, MI by the numbers
There were 93 offices of real estate agents and brokers in the Traverse City, MI metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 531210, Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers). Together they reported 178 mid-March employees and $13.0 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 212th of the 885 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 157,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 59.4 offices of real estate agents and brokers per 100,000 people, 23.2% above the national rate of 48.2. Establishments average 1.9 employees, 20.6% below the U.S. average of 2.4. Payroll per employee comes to $72,860, 7.9% below the national $79,090.
| Measure | Traverse City, MI | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 93 | 2,548 | 163,894 |
| Mid-March employees | 178 | 6,711 | 395,264 |
| Annual payroll | $12,969,000 | $447,826,000 | $31,261,611,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 1.9 | 2.6 | 2.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $72,860 | $66,730 | $79,090 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 59.4 | 25.1 | 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.
Team sizes at offices of real estate agents and brokers in Traverse City, MI
Of the offices of real estate agents and brokers in Traverse City, MI that had employees in March 2023, 95.6% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 92.2%). 100.0% 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 | 87 | 95.6% | 92.2% |
| 5–9 employees | 4 | 4.4% | 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 Traverse City, MI
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 Traverse City, MI:
- A lender calls about a buyer's financing.
- The agent calls a buyer back after an open house.
- A buyer calls about a listing they saw online.
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.
With business-hours routing, calls after closing can go to transcribed voicemail or an optional AI receptionist instead of ringing an empty room.
What a phone system costs a real estate office in Traverse City, MI
The average real estate office in Traverse City, MI has 1.9 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 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 Traverse City, MI
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 3 area codes. 231 has the most, with 104 of 109 exchanges (95%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 231 | 104 | Eastern | 1999 | none |
| 906 | 4 | Eastern and Central | 1961 | none |
| 989 | 1 | Eastern | 2001 | 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 Traverse City, MI 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 Traverse City, MI, 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 Traverse City, MI?
Census County Business Patterns counted 93 offices of real estate agents and brokers in the Traverse City, MI metro area in 2023. They employed 178 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 Traverse City, MI use?
Area code 231 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 906 and 989. 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.