Meet Kristian Utley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristian Utley.

Hi Kristian , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
From Oil Rigs to Luxury Real Estate

At 18 years old I left home and went to work drilling for oil in Alberta as a Motorman. It was hard, physical work, but it taught me discipline, resilience, and how to work for what I wanted.

At 24, I decided to take a completely different path. I bought a remote cottage in the mountains and lived off-grid for four years. I spent my days fishing, mining for gold, and living a life that was about as far removed from the city as you could get.

Eventually, I sold the property myself and discovered a new passion: real estate. I began buying, renovating, and flipping homes, learning the business from the ground up and doing much of the renovations myself.

Then, at 30, I decided I wanted to take things to another level. I knew I wanted to sell the most expensive real estate in Canada, so I did what any determined person would do: I Googled where Drake lived. I discovered he was on The Bridle Path, started researching homes for sale in the area, and came across Peter and Paige Torkan, stars of Luxe Listings Toronto who were selling homes on The Bridal Path.

On a Thursday, I cold-called them and told them I wanted to come work for them. They suggested we jump on a Zoom call since I was in Saskatchewan.
I said, “To hell with that… I’ll fly out tomorrow.”

I flew to Toronto the next day, interviewed on Saturday, got the job on Sunday, and never got on my return flight to Saskatchewan the following Monday.

I sold my cars, boat, house, and essentially everything I owned, packed my life into a new beginning, and never looked back.

For me, the story has never really been about real estate. It’s about being willing to bet on yourself, make the uncomfortable decision, and go all in when you know where you want to go.

A quote I made up and try live by is Trust yourself, Trust your vision, Trust the process

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The hardest part of the journey wasn’t learning real estate. It was starting over in a city where I barely knew anyone.
Real estate is a relationship business. Who you know, who trusts you, and who is willing to give you an opportunity can mean everything. When I moved to Toronto, I knew exactly one person: my brother.

I had left behind my friends, my family, my home, and the life I had built in Saskatchewan. I was starting from zero in a city where I had spent very little time, trying to build a career in one of the most competitive real estate markets in the country.

There have definitely been difficult moments. Building a network from scratch, earning people’s trust, and establishing yourself in a completely new environment doesn’t happen overnight. There were times when I questioned whether leaving everything behind was the right decision.

But I’ve always believed that the struggle is part of the process. I didn’t come to Toronto because it was comfortable. I came because I knew where I wanted to go. I understand that building something meaningful takes sacrifice, and right now I’m willing to make those sacrifices because I see the bigger picture.

I know there will be a day when I look back at this period of my life and realize that every difficult decision, every missed moment with friends and family, and every time I had to start from scratch was worth it.

For me, this is just the beginning.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
What sets me apart is that I didn’t come into real estate through the traditional path. I didn’t grow up in Toronto surrounded by developers, investors, and established real estate connections. I came from a small town in Saskatchewan where i taught myself how to renovate and flip homes, lived off-grid in the mountains of British Columbia , and eventually made the decision to start over in Toronto with almost no network.

I’m willing to do what most people aren’t willing to do. If I want something, I don’t sit around waiting for the perfect opportunity. I go after it. I’ve built my career by taking risks, picking up the phone, showing up in person, and putting myself in uncomfortable situations.

I also think my background gives me a different perspective on luxury real estate. I understand that a property isn’t just a house. It’s a major financial asset, a lifestyle, and often one of the biggest decisions someone will ever make. My construction and renovation background allows me to look at properties differently, while my experience starting from scratch has taught me how important relationships, trust, and execution really are.

Most importantly, I’m still hungry. I don’t feel like I’ve made it. I feel like I’m just getting started.
I moved across the country, left everything I knew behind, and started building a life in a city where I barely knew anyone. That experience has shaped how I approach everything today: with urgency, resilience, and the belief that if I’m willing to outwork, outthink, and outlast the competition, I can build something far bigger than what I started with.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
one word… trust.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @kristian.utley

Image Credits
Meru Pictures , IG @merupictures