A US real estate transaction coordinator averages about $46,800 a year (ZipRecruiter); Glassdoor puts it at about $71,600 for licensed and senior roles. Payroll taxes and benefits add roughly 30% (US Bureau of Labor Statistics), so the loaded cost is about $61,000 to $93,000 a year. A dedicated offshore South African assistant through VirtuHire US runs $1,200 to $2,800 a month, recruited for your US hours, with payroll and compliance handled and no recruitment fee. For a typical placement that is roughly 60 to 75 percent less than a loaded US hire.
What a real estate virtual assistant does
A real estate assistant or transaction coordinator takes the contract-to-close and listing admin that pulls agents out of selling.
- Contract-to-close coordination: deadlines, contingencies, document collection
- Listing inputs, MLS entry and syndication
- Client and vendor communication, on your hours
- CRM updates and pipeline hygiene (Follow Up Boss, kvCORE)
- Transaction management software (Dotloop, SkySlope), screened for before you interview
- Showing coordination and calendar management
Anything needing a license or a physical presence (showings, open houses, inspections) stays with your licensed agents; the assistant supports it remotely.
What a US in-house real estate assistant costs
A US real estate transaction coordinator averages about $46,800 a year (ZipRecruiter, August 2026). Glassdoor reports a higher $71,600, which skews up because it includes licensed and senior coordinators. Employers then carry roughly 30% on top of base for payroll tax, benefits and paid time off (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation).
| Source | Base salary | Loaded (+30%) | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZipRecruiter average | ~$46,800 | ~$61,000 | ~$5,100 |
| Glassdoor (licensed/senior) | ~$71,600 | ~$93,000 | ~$7,750 |
What a dedicated offshore real estate assistant costs
Through VirtuHire US, a dedicated South African real estate assistant runs $1,200 to $2,800 a month, all inclusive. Admin and CRM-heavy seats sit at the lower end; full transaction coordination at the higher end. No recruitment fee, no placement percentage. One monthly rate covers payroll, tax, HR and compliance, handled on our side as employer of record.
US cost vs offshore, side by side
| US in-house | Offshore (South Africa) | |
|---|---|---|
| Loaded cost per year | ~$61,000 to $93,000 | $14,400 to $33,600 |
| Per month | ~$5,100 to $7,750 | $1,200 to $2,800 |
| Payroll, benefits, compliance | Your responsibility | Handled (EOR) |
| Replacement if it is not working | Your re-hire cost and time | 30-day no-cost replacement |
For a typical placement the offshore seat lands roughly 60 to 75 percent below a loaded US hire, for the same transaction and listing admin.
When it fits, and when it does not
Good fit: a team or brokerage where transaction admin, CRM upkeep and listing coordination are eating selling time. Full-time or part-time both work.
Weaker fit: anything requiring a real estate license or a physical presence. The assistant supports those remotely; it does not replace a licensed agent.
How we built this guide
US salary figures are published 2026 aggregator data: real estate transaction coordinator $46,821 a year (ZipRecruiter, August 2026) and $71,562 a year (Glassdoor, 2026, which skews higher for licensed and senior roles). The 30% employer load is the benefits share from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employer Costs for Employee Compensation. VirtuHire US rates are our own current bands. Verify any figure directly before you budget against it.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a real estate virtual assistant cost?
A dedicated offshore real estate assistant or transaction coordinator from South Africa runs $1,200 to $2,800 a month. A comparable US in-house hire runs roughly $61,000 to $93,000 a year loaded, depending on the role and whether it is licensed.
What does a real estate virtual assistant do?
Contract-to-close coordination (deadlines, contingencies, documents), listing inputs and MLS entry, CRM and pipeline upkeep, transaction management software, and client and vendor communication on your hours.
Can they handle showings or anything requiring a license?
No. Licensed work and any physical presence (showings, open houses, inspections) stay with your licensed agents; the assistant supports those workflows remotely.
What hours will they work?
Recruited for your US business hours, East or West Coast, at the same flat monthly rate.
Which software can they use?
Screened for your stack, including Dotloop, SkySlope and Follow Up Boss, before you interview.
What happens if the assistant is not a fit?
VirtuHire US includes a 30-day replacement at no extra cost, and there is no recruitment or placement fee either way.
Related reading
- Real estate virtual assistants: scope, roles and what the seat covers.
- How much does a virtual assistant cost in 2026: full pricing breakdown by country and provider.
- US vs South Africa salary report: the role-by-role total-cost benchmark.
- VirtuHire US pricing: the full role-by-role rate band.
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