Suzanne's Story

 

My real estate career began with a friendly challenge at a cocktail party.

 

One of our neighbors, who owned a successful real estate company in Kansas City, looked at me and said, "Suzanne, you need to get your real estate license." Then he smiled and added, "I'll bet if you worked Sunday open houses, you'd make at least $25,000 your first year."

 

I accepted the challenge and earned my real estate license in 1976.

 

I've never met a stranger. As the oldest of six children, I naturally became the one who looked after everyone else. I guess you could say I've been "holding hands" my entire life. I genuinely enjoy meeting people, listening to their stories, and helping them through one of life's biggest milestones. 

 

Before real estate, I studied fashion design and marketing at the University of Missouri, where I met my husband, Gus. Together, we raised four wonderful children while supporting his NFL career with the Oakland Raiders.

 

Looking back, it's hard to imagine taking any other path.

 

Nearly five decades later, I still love what I do. The friendships I've built, the families I've helped, and the trust my clients continue to place in me have been the greatest rewards of my career.

 

Today, I have the privilege of sharing that passion with my daughter, Julie.

 

Julie's Story

 

My journey into real estate began with a phone call from my mom.

 

It was 1994, and she said, "They're moving the Rams to St. Louis, and I need your help. You need to get your real estate license."

 

Growing up around professional football, helping relocate an NFL organization sounded like an incredible adventure. What I didn't realize at the time was that it would become the foundation of my career.

 

 Although I grew up watching my mom build relationships through real estate, I never imagined following in her footsteps. After graduating from St. Joseph's Academy and attending the University of Missouri, I was still discovering where life would lead me.

 

Helping with the Rams relocation changed everything.

  

Soon afterward, Mom and I helped launch the first Keller Williams office in St. Louis. Those early years taught me invaluable lessons about leadership, entrepreneurship, and client service.

 

My career eventually expanded into mortgage lending and finance before taking me to San Diego, where I spent fourteen years immersed in one of the nation's most competitive and dynamic real estate markets.

 

From 2002 through 2016, I worked in both real estate and mortgage lending, gaining firsthand experience in a fast-paced coastal market where multiple offers, strategic negotiations, and creative financing were often the norm. Those years sharpened my ability to anticipate challenges, think strategically, and guide clients through increasingly complex transactions.

 

 Then came the housing crisis of 2008.

 

While many people left the industry, I chose to help families navigate some of the most difficult financial situations imaginable.  I worked with homeowners facing foreclosure, negotiated loan modifications, facilitated short sales, and helped clients find solutions when they believed there were none.

 

 Those experiences shaped the way I serve clients today. They taught me that real estate isn't simply about buying and selling homes—it's about helping people navigate life's biggest financial decisions with confidence, compassion, and trusted guidance.

 

In 2016, I returned home to St. Louis to partner with my mom once again, bringing with me not only years of experience but also the knowledge and perspective gained from one of the country's most challenging real estate markets.

 

In 2025, I earned my Missouri Broker's License, and together we proudly launched The Otto Group.

 

Today, we combine Suzanne's decades of relationship-building with my background in real estate, finance, mortgage lending, and high-demand coastal markets to provide something we believe is truly different.

 

We call it The Otto Group Concierge Experience™.

 

Our goal isn't simply to help clients buy or sell a home.

 

It's to make one of life's biggest financial decisions feel informed, organized, enjoyable, and remarkably less stressful.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Julie Otto      

Broker-Owner

Suzanne Otto

REALTOR®