Ep009: The State of the ROOST Union 2026

In this annual State of the Union–style episode, ROOST Founder & CEO Chris McAllister reflects on a pivotal year of rebuilding, professionalization, and strategic positioning—and lays out a clear, grounded vision for 2026 and beyond.Joined by ROOST’s Marketing Director and longtime podcast partner Laci LeBlanc, Chris breaks down what actually moved the needle in 2025—not buzzwords, not vanity metrics, but real operational upgrades that improved owner profitability, team effectiveness, and long-term scalability.This is not a highlight reel. It’s a candid operating report from inside a real, growing real estate company—what worked, what had to be rebuilt, and what’s now possible because the foundation is finally right.Whether you’re a landlord, investor, agent, property manager, or business owner thinking about scale without losing your soul, this episode offers practical insight and a clear lens for evaluating your own next season.KEY TAKEAWAYSHow Rehab & Maintenance 2.0 evolved from a reactive cost center into a profitability engineWhy Owner Portfolio Reviews became the most valuable—and personal—work ROOST doesHow ROOST intentionally became a media company, using YouTube and avatar-driven content to educate, attract, and scale trustThe team investments that had to happen before meaningful growth was possibleWhy migrating marketing and referrals into HighLevel changed everythingA deep look at “Hey Chris, Buy Me a Beer”, ROOST’s referral partner program built for modern agents and professionalsThe launch of a unified investor ecosystem combining Invest With ROOST and ROOST Portfolio ManagementNew initiatives in publishing, recruiting, leasing, and brand experience heading into 2026The long-term vision behind Boutique@Scale—and why it’s harder (and more valuable) than it soundsLINKSROOST Rehab & Maintenance – The Key to Your Profitability (and Ours) ROOST YouTube Channel – Content You Can TrustGoHighLevel – CRM Software that Automates What Makes Sense so We Can Personally Manage Relationships (Full Disclosure: This is an affiliate link!)Invest with ROOST – For Investors with Fewer than 50 PropertiesROOST Portfolio Management – For Investors with More than 50 PropertiesLearn With ROOST – View our evergrowing library of resources at the All Things Real Estate Hub.P.S. Want more practical tips for buying and selling real estate? Our ever-growing library of books, blog posts, podcast episodes, masterclasses, documents, and other tools is at your fingertips.Learn More >>> The All Things Real Estate Resource Hub