Husband-and-wife Realtors Peter and Paige Torkan say they set out to put Toronto on the global map—and they feel they’ve achieved their goal.
The couple stars in Season 1 of Luxe Listings Toronto, now streaming for reality show fans who may have missed its initial release last year.
The seven-episode series is a spin-off of Australia’s hit show Luxe Listings Sydney and features the Torkans’ high-end listings, clientele and insight into Toronto’s luxury market.
Bringing the show to life
An Amazon executive first approached the Torkans in 2020. Peter says they had two key conditions before agreeing to be on camera: their privacy had to be respected, and the show had to maintain their professional reputation.
“We don’t like drama,” Peter says. “We wanted to protect our name, protect the city… The series showcases Toronto in an amazing light.”
Although it took time for the show to move forward, once production was in motion, the couple juggled long filming days while managing the demands of running their brokerage and serving clients.
Amazon Canada
Showcasing Toronto’s luxury market
The show highlights the Torkans’ listings, with the lowest-priced property featured being a $7-million penthouse. Their portfolio includes multi-million-dollar homes in Toronto’s most prestigious neighbourhoods, such as York Mills, Forest Hill, Lawrence Park and The Bridle Path.
When the series first started streaming about nine months ago, Peter says the response was overwhelming.
“We got so many messages, love, emails, and essays about how gorgeous the show makes the city look,” he says.
From humble beginnings
Peter, founder of Team Torkan and The Agency, Brokerage in Toronto, has completed more than $1.6 billion in luxury transactions. But his journey wasn’t always glamorous.
Originally from Iran, he was educated in Europe before moving to Canada in 1994. “I pumped gas for $5 an hour, cooked pizza, delivered pizza,” he recalls. He earned his real estate license nearly two decades ago and built his business from the ground up.
Paige and Peter had met in Iran before his move to Canada. He proposed, and they were married over the phone—he in Canada, she in Iran. Paige arrived shortly after but struggled to find work without Canadian experience in computer engineering. To help pay the rent, she took a job at a downtown coffee shop. Later, she transitioned into finance before deciding to follow Peter into real estate.
“I have a passion for homes and design,” says Paige, who has now been a licensed Realtor for 15 years.
The couple hopes their story inspires young professionals to set ambitious goals.
The reality of luxury real estate
Peter emphasizes that success in the luxury market doesn’t come easily.
“It’s not that easy. You need a narrow, focused mind, determination… Everything starts with a mindset. If you think non-stop that you can’t do something, the negativity builds” and spreads into other areas of life, he says.
Paige adds that even local viewers have told them they had no idea Toronto had such glamorous real estate.
Will there be a season 2?
As of now, a second season has not been confirmed.
“Realistically, it’s a lot of work. We are hesitating,” Peter says.
Connie Adair is a contributing writer for REM.
