{"id":10630,"date":"2026-09-06T10:27:02","date_gmt":"2026-09-06T10:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/the-role-and-uses-of-real-estate-virtual-assistant\/"},"modified":"2026-09-06T10:27:02","modified_gmt":"2026-09-06T10:27:02","slug":"the-role-and-uses-of-real-estate-virtual-assistant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/the-role-and-uses-of-real-estate-virtual-assistant\/","title":{"rendered":"The Role and Uses of Real Estate Virtual Assistant"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The role and uses of real estate virtual assistant support come down to a licensing line most agents never think to check: a VA can manage your inbox, enter listings into the MLS, and follow up with leads for $10 to $40 an hour, but the moment they quote a price or negotiate a contract, they have crossed into work that almost every state reserves for a licensed agent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This guide checks what government wage data, state real estate commissions, and the National Association of Realtors actually say about the role and uses of real estate virtual assistant support in 2026, not just what staffing companies claim about their own service. Every statistic here is checked against its original source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_87 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/the-role-and-uses-of-real-estate-virtual-assistant\/#The_Short_Answer\" >The Short Answer<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/the-role-and-uses-of-real-estate-virtual-assistant\/#The_Role_and_Uses_of_Real_Estate_Virtual_Assistant_Support_Start_With_the_Task_List\" >The Role and Uses of Real Estate Virtual Assistant Support Start With the Task List<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/the-role-and-uses-of-real-estate-virtual-assistant\/#What_a_Real_Estate_Virtual_Assistant_Can_and_Cannot_Legally_Do\" >What a Real Estate Virtual Assistant Can and Cannot Legally Do<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/the-role-and-uses-of-real-estate-virtual-assistant\/#The_Pay_Numbers_Behind_the_Role_and_Uses_of_Real_Estate_Virtual_Assistant\" >The Pay Numbers Behind the Role and Uses of Real Estate Virtual Assistant<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/the-role-and-uses-of-real-estate-virtual-assistant\/#The_AI_Question_Inside_the_Role_and_Uses_of_Real_Estate_Virtual_Assistant\" >The AI Question Inside the Role and Uses of Real Estate Virtual Assistant<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/the-role-and-uses-of-real-estate-virtual-assistant\/#The_Legal_Risk_Nobody_Talks_About_Worker_Classification\" >The Legal Risk Nobody Talks About: Worker Classification<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/the-role-and-uses-of-real-estate-virtual-assistant\/#What_the_Data_Does_Not_Show_About_the_Role_and_Uses_of_Real_Estate_Virtual_Assistant\" >What the Data Does Not Show About the Role and Uses of Real Estate Virtual Assistant<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/the-role-and-uses-of-real-estate-virtual-assistant\/#Matching_the_Role_and_Uses_of_Real_Estate_Virtual_Assistant_Support_to_Team_Size\" >Matching the Role and Uses of Real Estate Virtual Assistant Support to Team Size<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/the-role-and-uses-of-real-estate-virtual-assistant\/#Common_Misconceptions_About_the_Role_and_Uses_of_Real_Estate_Virtual_Assistant\" >Common Misconceptions About the Role and Uses of Real Estate Virtual Assistant<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/the-role-and-uses-of-real-estate-virtual-assistant\/#The_Bottom_Line\" >The Bottom Line<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/the-role-and-uses-of-real-estate-virtual-assistant\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions_About_the_Role_and_Uses_of_Real_Estate_Virtual_Assistant\" >Frequently Asked Questions About the Role and Uses of Real Estate Virtual Assistant<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/the-role-and-uses-of-real-estate-virtual-assistant\/#What_tasks_can_a_real_estate_virtual_assistant_legally_do\" >What tasks can a real estate virtual assistant legally do?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/the-role-and-uses-of-real-estate-virtual-assistant\/#How_much_does_a_real_estate_virtual_assistant_cost\" >How much does a real estate virtual assistant cost?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/the-role-and-uses-of-real-estate-virtual-assistant\/#Is_there_government_wage_data_specifically_for_real_estate_virtual_assistants\" >Is there government wage data specifically for real estate virtual assistants?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/the-role-and-uses-of-real-estate-virtual-assistant\/#Can_a_real_estate_virtual_assistant_show_property_to_buyers\" >Can a real estate virtual assistant show property to buyers?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/the-role-and-uses-of-real-estate-virtual-assistant\/#Is_AI_replacing_real_estate_virtual_assistants\" >Is AI replacing real estate virtual assistants?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Short_Answer\"><\/span>The Short Answer<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The role and uses of real estate virtual assistant support center on administrative and marketing work that keeps an agent&#8217;s business running without requiring a license. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nar.realtor\/news\/broker-news\/network\/maximize-your-time-by-hiring-a-virtual-assistant\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The National Association of Realtors<\/a> describes core VA tasks as answering and forwarding calls, editing MLS listings, managing email and scheduling, and coordinating marketing materials, while stating plainly that &#8220;it&#8217;s important to make sure the tasks you&#8217;re delegating don&#8217;t require a license.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pay varies enormously by where the VA is based, which is itself one of the clearest threads running through the role and uses of real estate virtual assistant support today. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeetc.com\/plans-and-pricing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Time Etc&#8217;s published rate card<\/a> prices US-based virtual assistants at $36 to $39 an hour depending on plan size, while <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kdci.co\/outsourcing-blog\/post\/how-much-is-a-real-estate-virtual-assistant-salary-philippines\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">KDCI&#8217;s Philippines-focused pay data<\/a> puts entry-level Philippine-based real estate VAs at roughly $292 to $344 a month, a gap of more than 10 times between the two markets for comparable entry-level work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Data Point<\/th><th>Figure<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Median pay, Secretaries\/Admin Assistants, closest BLS proxy (May 2025)<\/td><td>$48,310\/yr ($23.23\/hr)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>BLS projected employment change, 2025-2035<\/td><td>-2%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>US-based VA hourly rate (Time Etc published rate card)<\/td><td>$36-$39\/hr<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Philippines-based entry-level REVA pay (KDCI)<\/td><td>~$292-$344\/month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Philippines-based senior REVA pay (KDCI)<\/td><td>~$868-$1,204\/month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>REALTORS using AI daily (NAR 2025 Technology Survey)<\/td><td>20%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>REALTORS who had not yet used AI in their business (NAR 2025)<\/td><td>32%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Brokerages with no AI adoption plans, 2026 (Delta Media\/HousingWire)<\/td><td>1.9%, down from 10.6% in 2024<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Role_and_Uses_of_Real_Estate_Virtual_Assistant_Support_Start_With_the_Task_List\"><\/span>The Role and Uses of Real Estate Virtual Assistant Support Start With the Task List<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The day-to-day task list is where the role and uses of real estate virtual assistant support are easiest to define. Based on NAR&#8217;s own guidance and real named examples from its membership, the core work includes taking and forwarding calls, submitting and editing MLS listings, managing an agent&#8217;s inbox and calendar, maintaining a client database, and coordinating marketing materials and events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Real agents report real cost figures for the role and uses of real estate virtual assistant support in their own businesses. Trudy Stewart, a Keller Williams agent in Tampa, paid $800 a month for 20 hours a week of VA support and sold her most expensive property within the VA&#8217;s first month on the job. AnnMarie Janni, in Cary, North Carolina, pays roughly $400 per closed transaction for a client care manager who handles scheduling, client communication, and database work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Terry Lajoie, an eXp Realty agent in New Hampshire, described VA costs ranging from $10 to $15 an hour up to $500 to $1,500 a month for 20 to 40 hours of work, alongside a jump from a solo $3 million producer to a team generating $30 million a year. These are individual, self-reported examples rather than a controlled study, and should be read as illustrations of the arrangement rather than guaranteed outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/5i263mntkpc.webp\" alt=\"A virtual assistant working at a laptop with real estate listings on screen, illustrating the role and uses of real estate virtual assistant support\" class=\"wp-image-10625\" srcset=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/5i263mntkpc.webp 800w, https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/5i263mntkpc-200x300.webp 200w, https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/5i263mntkpc-683x1024.webp 683w, https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/5i263mntkpc-768x1152.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">NAR: a Tampa agent paid $800\/month for 20 hours of VA support and sold her most expensive property within the first month.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_a_Real_Estate_Virtual_Assistant_Can_and_Cannot_Legally_Do\"><\/span>What a Real Estate Virtual Assistant Can and Cannot Legally Do<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the part of the role and uses of real estate virtual assistant work that carries real legal risk if it is ignored, and it is regulated state by state rather than by any single national rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trec.texas.gov\/article\/use-unlicensed-assistants-real-estate-transactions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Texas Real Estate Commission<\/a> is explicit: an unlicensed assistant cannot conduct telemarketing to solicit buyers or sellers, show property, or negotiate any part of a deal, but can schedule showings for a licensed agent, handle clerical and bookkeeping work, place advertising, and confirm previously published property details as long as they identify themselves as unlicensed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">North Carolina&#8217;s rule, quoted directly in NAR&#8217;s own guidance, draws a similarly hard line: unlicensed assistants &#8220;cannot show properties for sale to prospective purchasers, solicit listings or management contracts from prospective clients, or discuss listings, offers or contracts.&#8221; Every state sets its own version of this boundary, which means a national description of what a VA can do is necessarily a generalization, and any agent working across state lines should confirm the specific rule where the property is located rather than assuming one state&#8217;s guidance applies everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Pay_Numbers_Behind_the_Role_and_Uses_of_Real_Estate_Virtual_Assistant\"><\/span>The Pay Numbers Behind the Role and Uses of Real Estate Virtual Assistant<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understanding the role and uses of real estate virtual assistant support also means being honest about a data gap: there is no government wage series built specifically around real estate virtual assistants. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/office-and-administrative-support\/secretaries-and-administrative-assistants.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a> tracks the closest proxy occupation, Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, at a median $48,310 a year, or $23.23 an hour, as of May 2025, with total employment projected to decline 2 percent from 2025 to 2035 even as roughly 314,400 openings a year are expected from turnover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notably, the BLS page itself acknowledges the arrangement directly, noting that &#8220;some administrative assistants work out of their own homes as virtual assistants,&#8221; without breaking out separate pay data for that group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1068\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/5fnmwej4taa.webp\" alt=\"A real estate agent reviewing paperwork and a laptop in an office, weighing the role and uses of real estate virtual assistant support\" class=\"wp-image-10627\" srcset=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/5fnmwej4taa.webp 1600w, https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/5fnmwej4taa-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/5fnmwej4taa-1024x684.webp 1024w, https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/5fnmwej4taa-768x513.webp 768w, https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/5fnmwej4taa-1536x1025.webp 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">BLS: the closest proxy occupation, Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, had a median wage of $48,310 a year in May 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Actual market rates split sharply by location. On the US-based end, Time Etc&#8217;s directly published pricing runs $36 to $39 an hour depending on monthly hour commitment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the offshore end, KDCI&#8217;s Philippines-specific data shows real estate VA pay climbing from roughly $292 to $344 a month at entry level to $868 to $1,204 a month for senior VAs, compared with $3,708 to $9,700 a month for US-based VAs across the same experience range on the same page, a comparison worth treating cautiously since it comes from a company that sells offshore staffing services and has a direct financial interest in that gap looking as large as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_AI_Question_Inside_the_Role_and_Uses_of_Real_Estate_Virtual_Assistant\"><\/span>The AI Question Inside the Role and Uses of Real Estate Virtual Assistant<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Software is increasingly doing work that used to sit squarely inside the role and uses of real estate virtual assistant support, and the data on how fast that shift is happening is unusually well documented for 2025 and 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nar.realtor\/press-releases\/realtors-embrace-ai-digital-tools-to-enhance-client-service-nar-survey-finds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NAR&#8217;s 2025 Technology Survey<\/a> found 20 percent of REALTORS use AI tools daily and 22 percent weekly, while 32 percent had not yet used AI in their business at all; of those who had adopted it, 17 percent reported a significantly positive business impact and 46 percent reported no noticeable impact yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A separate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.housingwire.com\/articles\/real-estate-brokerage-ai-adoption-hits-a-tipping-point-as-holdouts-disappear\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Delta Media Group survey covered by HousingWire<\/a>, based on more than 100 brokerage leaders surveyed annually, found brokerages reporting no plans to adopt AI fell from 10.6 percent in 2024 to just 1.9 percent in 2026, and brokerages reporting no AI use at all fell from 24.8 percent to 3.9 percent over the same period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That trend does not eliminate the human VA role, since NAR&#8217;s own top AI use case, eSignature software at 79 percent adoption, still requires someone to prepare and route the documents, but it does mean the routine data-entry and scheduling slice of VA work is shrinking as software absorbs more of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Confirm the licensing line in writing:<\/strong> ask a broker or the state real estate commission directly which tasks require a license before delegating anything involving pricing, negotiation, or showing property.<\/li><li><strong>Decide how the VA is engaged:<\/strong> hiring through a staffing company shifts worker-classification risk to that company, while hiring directly as a 1099 contractor keeps that risk with the agent.<\/li><li><strong>Weigh location against task complexity:<\/strong> offshore VAs cost a fraction of US-based rates but add time-zone coordination and are typically restricted to a narrower set of legally permitted tasks.<\/li><li><strong>Treat vendor ROI claims skeptically:<\/strong> ask any staffing company for verifiable client references rather than relying on the testimonials published on their own marketing pages.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Legal_Risk_Nobody_Talks_About_Worker_Classification\"><\/span>The Legal Risk Nobody Talks About: Worker Classification<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One risk in the role and uses of real estate virtual assistant arrangements gets far less attention than licensing does, and it applies specifically to US-based VAs hired directly as independent contractors rather than through a staffing company. In May 2025, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/newsroom\/releases\/whd\/whd20250501\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Department of Labor&#8217;s Wage and Hour Division<\/a> directed investigators to stop applying the 2024 independent-contractor final rule in current enforcement matters, reverting instead to older classification standards while that rule remains under review and tied up in federal court litigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That guidance was not written about real estate or virtual assistants specifically, but an agent who hires a VA as a 1099 contractor and directs their hours, tools, and daily tasks the way an employee would is exactly the fact pattern this area of labor law is meant to address. Agents structuring a VA relationship directly, rather than through a staffing company that employs the VA itself, carry that classification risk personally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_the_Data_Does_Not_Show_About_the_Role_and_Uses_of_Real_Estate_Virtual_Assistant\"><\/span>What the Data Does Not Show About the Role and Uses of Real Estate Virtual Assistant<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Any honest account of the role and uses of real estate virtual assistant support has to name a gap in the research: no independent, non-commercial study quantifying how much a VA actually improves an agent&#8217;s productivity or income appears to exist publicly. Every return-on-investment figure available, including the named-agent examples cited above, comes from either individual self-reported anecdotes or marketing claims published by companies that sell VA staffing services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That does not mean the arrangement does not work; it means the strongest evidence available is anecdotal rather than statistical, and any agent evaluating the decision should weigh cost against their own workload and revenue rather than assuming a vendor&#8217;s testimonial will generalize to their business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Matching_the_Role_and_Uses_of_Real_Estate_Virtual_Assistant_Support_to_Team_Size\"><\/span>Matching the Role and Uses of Real Estate Virtual Assistant Support to Team Size<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The role and uses of real estate virtual assistant support look different depending on how large the team is, and the data above points to a fairly clean progression. A solo agent just starting out is usually best served by a narrow, low-cost slice of the work, inbox management and MLS entry at $10 to $15 an hour, since Trudy Stewart&#8217;s $800-a-month example shows meaningful results are possible even at a small time commitment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A growing team closer to Terry Lajoie&#8217;s trajectory, from a $3 million solo producer to a $30 million team, typically needs a broader bundle: transaction coordination, database management, and marketing support running $500 to $1,500 a month or more. At that scale, the classification question raised above becomes more urgent too, since a team paying a VA a consistent monthly amount for defined hours looks more like an employment relationship than a one-off contractor engagement, which is exactly the fact pattern the Department of Labor&#8217;s guidance is built around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common_Misconceptions_About_the_Role_and_Uses_of_Real_Estate_Virtual_Assistant\"><\/span>Common Misconceptions About the Role and Uses of Real Estate Virtual Assistant<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A common misconception is that a virtual assistant is legally interchangeable with a licensed assistant or junior agent. State regulators including TREC and NCREC draw a firm line around solicitation, negotiation, and showing property, and a broker who lets a VA cross that line risks the broker&#8217;s own license, not just the VA&#8217;s standing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A second misconception is that offshore VA pay comparisons tell the whole story. Philippines-based pay figures published by outsourcing companies are real but come from businesses with a financial interest in emphasizing the largest possible gap versus US-based rates, and they do not account for time-zone coordination costs or the narrower scope of legally permitted tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A third misconception is that AI tools have already replaced the human VA role. NAR&#8217;s own 2025 survey found nearly a third of REALTORS had not yet used AI in their business at all, and even the most widely adopted tool category, eSignature software, still requires a person to manage the underlying workflow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Bottom_Line\"><\/span>The Bottom Line<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The role and uses of real estate virtual assistant support are well defined on the administrative side and genuinely risky on the legal side if that line is ignored. VAs can reliably handle calls, MLS entry, scheduling, database management, and marketing coordination for $10 to $40 an hour depending on location, but licensing rules that vary by state draw a hard line around solicitation, negotiation, and showing property, and misclassifying a US-based VA as an independent contractor carries real labor-law exposure under current federal enforcement guidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For an agent weighing the decision, the practical takeaway is to write down the specific tasks being delegated before hiring anyone, check them against the home state&#8217;s unlicensed-assistant rules, and decide upfront whether the relationship will run through a staffing company or as a direct contractor, since that choice determines who carries the classification risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anyone weighing remote or flexible work arrangements more broadly, whether as the agent or the assistant, may find it useful to first read <a href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/the-key-advantages-of-telecommuting\/\">the key advantages of telecommuting<\/a> before deciding how a VA relationship should be structured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions_About_the_Role_and_Uses_of_Real_Estate_Virtual_Assistant\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions About the Role and Uses of Real Estate Virtual Assistant<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_tasks_can_a_real_estate_virtual_assistant_legally_do\"><\/span>What tasks can a real estate virtual assistant legally do?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Administrative and marketing work: answering and forwarding calls, entering and editing MLS listings under a broker&#8217;s direction, managing email and scheduling, database maintenance, and coordinating marketing materials. State rules vary, but nearly all draw the line at solicitation, negotiation, and showing property to prospective buyers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_much_does_a_real_estate_virtual_assistant_cost\"><\/span>How much does a real estate virtual assistant cost?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">US-based VAs typically run $36 to $39 an hour based on published rate cards, while offshore, Philippines-based VAs range from roughly $292 to $344 a month for entry-level work up to $868 to $1,204 a month for senior-level support, according to outsourcing-company data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_there_government_wage_data_specifically_for_real_estate_virtual_assistants\"><\/span>Is there government wage data specifically for real estate virtual assistants?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has no distinct occupational code for virtual assistants; the closest proxy, Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, had a median wage of $48,310 a year in May 2025, with no separate breakout for virtual or offshore workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_a_real_estate_virtual_assistant_show_property_to_buyers\"><\/span>Can a real estate virtual assistant show property to buyers?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Generally no. Texas, North Carolina, and other states&#8217; unlicensed-assistant rules explicitly prohibit unlicensed personnel from showing property for sale to prospective purchasers; that activity is reserved for licensed agents in most states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_AI_replacing_real_estate_virtual_assistants\"><\/span>Is AI replacing real estate virtual assistants?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not yet broadly. NAR&#8217;s 2025 Technology Survey found 32 percent of REALTORS had not used AI in their business at all, though adoption of tools like AI-generated content (46%) and eSignature software (79%) is reducing the routine data-entry portion of VA work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The role and uses of real estate virtual assistant support come down to a licensing line most agents never think to check: a VA can manage your inbox, enter listings into the MLS, and follow up with leads for $10 to $40 an hour, but the moment they quote a price or negotiate a contract, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10625,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10630","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10630","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10630"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10630\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10631,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10630\/revisions\/10631"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10625"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10630"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10630"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10630"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}