AI assistant or an ISA? What each one costs, and what each one does.
An ISA answers and qualifies your leads so you can spend your day with clients. Here's an honest look at hiring one versus a texting assistant, and where each one fits.
What is an ISA in real estate?
An ISA, or inside sales agent, works the phones and texts for an agent or team. They answer new leads, ask what the buyer is looking for, and set appointments, so the agent can spend time showing homes.
A good ISA is worth a lot. The catch is cost, hiring and training time, and that one person can't answer at 9pm on a Saturday every week.
- ISA average pay
$44,158
a year, about $3,680 a month, before commission, benefits or hiring time.
Source: ZipRecruiter, checked October 2026 - Wonderstand
$199
a month. Answers every buyer who texts your number, any hour.
Hiring an ISA vs a texting assistant
| An ISA you hire | Wonderstand | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | About $3,680 a month base, plus commission | $199 a month |
| Hours | Their shift | Any hour, weekends too |
| First reply | When they see it | In seconds |
| Booking showings | Yes | Yes, onto your Google Calendar, with reminders |
| Phone calls | Yes, inbound and outbound | No, texting only |
| Price, offers, contracts | Depends on the person | Always sent to you |
| Getting started | Hiring and training | Sign up, add your listings, share your number |
Where each one fits
An ISA is the better fit if
- You need someone calling leads on the phone
- You want outbound prospecting and cold calls
- You have the lead volume to keep a full-time hire busy
Wonderstand is the better fit if
- Buyers text you at night and on weekends
- You want showings booked without the back and forth
- You'd rather keep the judgment calls yourself
Questions agents ask
What does an ISA do in real estate?
An inside sales agent answers new leads, finds out what the buyer wants, and books appointments for the agent.
How much does a real estate ISA make?
ZipRecruiter puts the average at $44,158 a year (checked October 2026). Many ISA roles add commission on top.
Can an AI assistant replace an ISA?
For texting, mostly yes: first replies, questions about your listings, and booking showings. It doesn't make phone calls, and it sends price, offer and contract questions to you.
Can I use both?
Yes. The assistant can take texts at night and on weekends while an ISA works the phones.