E523 – Rob Ohlson, Inside Calgary’s Luxury Real Estate
“We only exist to be in service of our homeowners. So if they don’t feel that there’s value with us and we fail, then we need to kind of look in the mirror to see what we can do better. ”
What does it mean to build well in a city that's constantly changing? In this episode, Rob Ohlson, President of Maillot Homes, joins Tyler to reflect on his journey as a builder, land investor, and long-time Calgarian navigating the pressures of affordability, design complexity, and client trust. Rob shares how a chance experiment with speculative builds evolved into a multi-decade career anchored in relationships, land strategy, and a commitment to doing things differently. From LEED-certified construction to lessons learned from 80-year-old homeowners, Rob breaks down how homes get better when builders listen first. Along the way, he unpacks Calgary’s blanket rezoning debate, why politicized housing policy is missing the mark, and how builders can embrace both profitability and purpose. For anyone interested in Calgary’s future—from neighbourhood design to housing equity—this conversation shows what it looks like when craftsmanship meets curiosity.