02/02/2026
RAMLO 2026 had us zooming out.
The global picture is shifting. We’re seeing a rupture in the rules-based international order. Trade, tariffs, productivity, housing, labour… everything feels in motion.
Rising North Atlantic Treaty Organization spending is a macro signal: capital is being redirected, construction and labour costs face upward pressure, inflation stays stickier and interest rates follow.
For real estate and business, that translates into tighter development economics, more selective investment, and a renewed premium on fundamentals: cash flow, location, efficiency.
History reminds us this isn’t new.
• The “Nixon Shock” (1971) shifted the world to fiat currency, showing how quickly governments change the rules under pressure.
• The Smoot–Hawley Tariff Act (1930) under Herbert Hoover deepened the Great Depression as global trade contracted.
• The Embargo Act of 1807 under Thomas Jefferson shut down trade overnight, hurting domestic markets first.
Same lesson across centuries: when economies turn inward, confidence drops, supply chains tighten, and recovery gets harder.
So where are we now?
Every cycle moves from Grief → Acceptance → Solutions.
We’re in the creativity phase. Sharpen your pencils. This isn’t about the next deal, it’s about the next decade.
Decide. Contribute. Help shape the next data points.
A few stats I’m sitting with:
👉 Central Okanagan MLS sales are up ~9% year-over-year (first increase since 2021), outperforming several major BC markets.
👉 Inventory remains elevated, but prices aren’t collapsing - this is adjustment, with pent-up demand underneath.
👉 Purpose-built rentals are up +176% over the past decade locally, yet vacancy is rising while rents continue edging higher.
Translation? This is a more balanced and more complex market. It rewards those who pay attention.
How will you embrace this season?
Grateful for the perspective from Andrew Ramlo and
