It all started with a conversation.
In 2016, Roof AI built the industry's first real estate chatbot. Like magic, it worked – and kept working. That's because we saw what others didn't: homebuyers didn't want filters or dropdowns. They wanted to ask questions in their own words, like "Show me homes with big backyards near good schools."
So that's what we built. And millions of conversations later, the proof is clear that real estate consumers don't just tolerate bots – in fact, oftentimes they prefer them, especially early in their buyer journey.
Throughout our history, we helped hundreds of brokerages modernize how they talk to consumers online. Together, we turned chat widgets into revenue engines.
But here's the thing: our brokerage partners have always been ahead. They embraced tools like conversational bots and AI-powered search before most in the industry even heard about them. Now, what we pioneered in 2016 is becoming standard practice across real estate.
In time, the industry has finally caught up.
However, consumer expectations during that time only kept rising. So we kept evolving our AI assistant with them in mind – with more capabilities, more value, and smarter routing.
Fast forward to 2025, and we find ourselves in a familiar place: once again looking to the future and building for what's next. Because expectations are at an all-time high, we want to make sure we keep leading from the front.
So earlier this year, we went back to building – laying a new AI foundation for how people communicate today, and where conversations are heading next. And that future is a lot more conversational than what people are used to seeing when it comes to communicating with real estate websites.
Why conversations needed to evolve
The thing is, real estate conversations are rarely linear. Buyers begin by asking about a listing, then pivot to neighborhoods. Sellers may start with asking for pricing advice, then the conversation moves to timing. People don't think in scripts – they explore, reconsider, and change direction mid-thought.
And up until now, that never really translated well into most chatbot interactions. Conversations felt natural, up until they hit a wall when the topic shifted. All of a sudden, the chatbot assistant would forget what you said two minutes ago and couldn't provide updated info or context.
But that all changes today.
What we built
We've rebuilt Roof's conversational AI engine from the ground up using a hybrid AI stack powered by frontier large language models (LLMs), with new capabilities built for reasoning, adaptability, and conversations that feel more human. This isn't just an incremental update – it's a fundamental shift in what our assistant can do, and how naturally it does it.
Here's what's new:
Conversations that actually flow
Adaptive conversations
The AI assistant now understands when you shift topics, revisit previous questions, or take the conversation in a new direction altogether, then adapts instantly. For example, if a buyer asks about a condo, then mid-conversation says, "Actually, what about townhomes instead?" the assistant won’t just reset. It doesn't lose context – it flows naturally with you, the way a real conversation would.
Intelligent multitasking
Managing multiple goals in the same thread is now more seamless than ever. So if a visitor says, "I want to buy and sell a property," the assistant handles one task, then picks up the other exactly where it should – without any awkward resets or lost progress. It tracks both threads automatically and keeps the conversation moving forward.
Natural interaction design
So long, static buttons and rigid prompts! 👋
Conversations now start open and intuitive, shaped by the user’s context instead of predetermined paths. This experience more closely resembles natural conversation, which makes it feel more fluid from the first message.
Multilingual conversations
Roof AI now speaks multiple languages, making it easier to serve diverse communities and markets. Whether your clients prefer English, Spanish, French, or other languages, the AI assistant adapts seamlessly – maintaining the same natural, intelligent experience across every unique interaction.
Answers rooted in the real world
Real-time web search
We all hate AI hallucinations. Now, if a question goes beyond the assistant's built-in knowledge, it doesn't guess or deflect – instead, it searches the web in real time. So whether you're asking about recent market trends, or breaking local news in the area, the assistant will find relevant, up-to-date information and deliver it directly in the conversation.
Local insights and knowledge
Buyers don’t just purchase a new home – they invest in their local communities. Now they can ask about the areas they’re interested in, simply by asking the assistant questions like “What’s the best restaurant nearby?” or “Any cool biking trails in the area?”
It will then provide live, local answers in rich format – including images, links, and key details – all in context.
Similar listings
Property browsing just got smarter. When visitors come across a listing they like, they can simply ask, "Any similar properties?" and the AI assistant instantly shows them comparable options. No more opening new tabs or losing their place – they can explore alternatives right in the conversation, displayed in an intuitive carousel layout.
Context that builds over time
Richer context understanding
Your AI assistant can now connect a lot more dots. It knows where your visitors are on your site, and can learn about your brokerage in real time – including recent news, market updates, achievements, and more. With the ability to search the web, it can now personalize its responses with relevant, up-to-date information on your business.
Persistent memory
Your AI assistant’s memory got a serious upgrade! It can now recognize returning users, recall prior interactions with them, understand their progress, and can even suggest picking up right where their last conversation ended. No more conversations from scratch – instead, it will learn and evolve right alongside your customer’s journey.
Trust built in from day one
Of course, none of this would matter if these exciting new capabilities weren't safe, compliant, and transparent. Each of these features that we've introduced adheres to Roof AI's industry-leading safety and compliance frameworks such as FHA alignment, as well as ethical AI standards.
tl;dr – we didn’t just drop experimental tech into production. It’s been thoughtfully designed, rigorously tested, and operates with full transparency and accountability.
Why this matters
Our mission has always remained the same: solving your customers’ needs. That's what drives our product — and we’ve got the data to back it up.
Over the past year:
- We’ve automated over 90 million consumer conversations for our existing clients
- Roof's AI assistant answers over 60% of all real estate questions without human intervention
- Our clients experience a 7% closing rate with Roof AI, a huge boost compared to the national industry average of 2%
Everything that made Roof AI convert still converts. Now it just feels natural, fluid, human – and more capable than ever.
For potential clients visiting a brokerage's website, this update is a game changer. The result is an AI assistant that does more than simply respond, it reasons. Roof’s AI assistant learns their individual needs and adapts to their conversations more naturally, leading to an even greater customer experience.
Looking ahead
We pioneered the way people search for homes. Now we're pioneering the way they have conversations online to help their search.
