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Real Estate ISA Alternatives: Five Options and What Each Costs
The alternatives to hiring an in-house real estate ISA are an outsourced ISA service ($720 to $3,000 or more a month), an AI ISA like Structurely or Ylopo AI Texting (usage-based, often $500 or more a month), a virtual assistant, CRM action plans, or an AI assistant like Sifta (one flat monthly price) that does the follow-up from your texts.
What an in-house ISA costs
An in-house real estate ISA costs $44,158 a year in base salary, per ZipRecruiter, before commission, taxes and the lead system they work in.
Fully loaded, that is about $4,583 to $5,417 a month. It buys a person who makes calls, which is the one thing most alternatives below do not.
The five alternatives, side by side
Each alternative trades cost against how much of the job it covers.
| Option | Examples | Cost | Makes calls? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outsourced ISA service | REVAS, MyOutDesk | $720 to $3,000 or more a month; MyOutDesk full-time from $1,988 | Yes | Teams that want a person on the phone |
| AI ISA | Structurely, Ylopo AI Texting, Verse | Usage-based; Structurely reported $499 to $999 a month plus setup | Some, by AI voice | Teams buying leads at volume |
| Virtual assistant | General real estate VAs | Often $10 to $20 an hour offshore | Sometimes | Admin tasks with clear instructions |
| CRM action plans | Follow Up Boss, Lofty, BoldTrail | Included in the CRM | No | Reminders and simple drips |
| AI assistant you text | Sifta | Flat monthly plan; see pricing | No | Solo agents and teams who want the whole follow-up done |
When to still hire a person
Hire a person when your leads need phone calls at volume and you have the lead flow to keep someone busy.
A good ISA pays for themselves on a team buying hundreds of leads a month. Below that, most of the ISA's day is follow-up texts, reminders and chasing, which software now does for a fraction of the cost.
What Sifta covers that an ISA would
Sifta covers the text and inbox side of an ISA's job, plus the chasing and remembering an ISA never sees.
It drafts the first reply to a new lead in your voice with real showing times, keeps following up for months, remembers what every buyer said, chases lenders and title, and books showings. Sifta is not a CRM, does not make phone calls, does not run ad campaigns and does not do compliance paperwork.
It does the follow-up, the chasing, the booking and the research, from the text thread you already have open. If Sifta doesn't catch something worth more than the price in week one, you don't pay.
Three ways to start
You can try Sifta free for 7 days, see what it does, or read the pricing page.
The free week is the fastest way to see it: connect your email and calendar, add Sifta to your texts, and let it run your busywork for 7 days. Cancel any time before the week ends and you are not charged.
Every plan after that is a flat monthly price with no contract. If Sifta doesn't catch something worth more than the price in week one, you don't pay.
Keep reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I use instead of a real estate ISA?
An outsourced ISA service, an AI ISA like Structurely, a virtual assistant, CRM action plans, or an AI assistant like Sifta that does the follow-up from your texts.
Is an AI ISA as good as a human ISA?
For fast first replies and steady text follow-up, often yes. For phone conversations and judgment calls, a person is still better.
How much is an outsourced real estate ISA?
About $720 to $3,000 or more a month depending on hours; MyOutDesk full-time starts at $1,988 a month as of 2026.
Does Sifta make phone calls?
No. Sifta works in text and your inbox. If you need calls made, pair it with a person or an AI voice ISA.
Related reading
Three ways in
The ISA's follow-up, for the price of a phone bill.
The Week-One Guarantee. Try Sifta free for 7 days, and if it doesn't catch something worth more than the price, you won't pay a thing. You can cancel with one text.
Try Sifta free for 7 days