KEARNEY — Sisters Amber Otto and Tia Stratton have become a dynamic duo in real estate.
For the past three years, Otto and Stratton have combined their personal strengths, skills and enthusiasm as the Property Sisters.
Stratton is the detail freak, and Otto has the friendly face.
While Stratton is sweating the small stuff, Otto is warming up their clients. Relationships are important, Otto says — as important as closing the sale.
Stratton agrees. “Our mission is to build relationships. Finding people a house is a side benefit.”
Sept. 1 marked the women’s third anniversary as the Property Sisters.
During those three years, they have honed their Property Sisters identity. Like most real estate agents, the pair takes advantage of technology, including videos that can take customers inside homes for virtual tours.
Although most real estate videos use a simple format — panning shots that focus on the features in each room — the Property Sisters want to take their videos to a higher level.
Stratton said the goal with a Property Sisters video is to keep the audience engaged. Doing that takes energy, creativity and a sense of humor.
“We’re a little more brave,” Otto said. “Other realtors say, ‘We could never do that.’”
Stratton and Otto attack people’s funny bones. Many of their videos have a humorous theme.
In one of their earliest videos, the Property Sisters invite their audience to a barbecue. It’s a strategy that injects a lot of action and human interest that keeps potential buyers interested through the entire video.
Putting so much emphasis on the production takes time shooting and editing, but it’s effective, say the Property Sisters.
Three years ago when Stratton and Otto created their first humorous videos, their goal was to sell a home that had been on the market an entire year. Three weeks after the Property Sisters posted their video, the house had a “sold” sign sticking up in the front yard.
Their initial success inspired the Property Sisters to capitalize on their talent, enthusiasm and skills in other ways.
They said they are enjoying their real estate work so much that it’s hard to believe what their lives were like growing up together in Bertrand.
Otto and Stratton said the two of them just couldn’t get along.
It was a daily brawl. It may be no surprise, then, that when they were old enough to move out, the sisters went separate ways.

Amber Otto (left) and Tia Stratton have become familiar faces to the community through their real estate partnership as the Property Sisters.
COURTESY PHOTO
Otto operated an in-home daycare.
Stratton was inspired by an aunt who was in real estate. After Stratton graduated from high school, she dove directly into selling houses but shifted gears after five years when she went to work at Horizon Designs in Kearney. She enjoyed the creative environment, but she was ready after 12 years to return to real estate.
By that time, Otto had acquired her license and had been selling homes for 3-4 years in the Holdrege and Kearney areas.
That’s when the idea struck Stratton to join forces with her sister.
“One day I called Amber and said, ‘Why don’t we become a team?’” Stratton said.
Partnering with her sister sounded exciting, Otto said.
They had skills and attributes that made them stronger as a team. But to be a team, Stratton said real estate rules required special training.
The women completed the training, and the Property Sisters were born.
“Amber’s strength is that she’s more warm and friendly,” Stratton said about her sister.
“Tia is on top of all the paperwork,” Otto said.
Stratton and Otto sold 19 houses in their first year as the Property Sisters.
Their sales included the house that was unsold for an entire year. Stratton and Otto filmed a video, and the house was sold three weeks later.
Their creative juices are flowing each time they produce a Property Sisters video.
Sometimes they imitate famous cable programs such as “Cribs,” Stratton said. “Welcome to PSTV.”
“In one video I sat in the tub with cucumbers on my eyes,” Stratton said. In another video she leaps high and flops onto a king size bed.
“Santa appeared in one of our videos,” Otto said.
They said Kearney and Holdrege are strong real estate markets, and because they are a two-person team, one of the sisters can be in Holdrege while the other is in Kearney.
That’s one of the advantages the Property Sisters have compared to realtors who operate solo.
Otto said the pace has become quicker in Holdrege. “You would be surprised how many people are moving to Holdrege because of jobs at the hospital, at Becton Dickinson and Allmand Bros.”
Otto and Stratton decided from the beginning that the Property Sisters would equally share earnings. They also decided to stay focused on the positives. They say there are many advantages to being a two-person team.
“We’re a little more brave as a team,” Otto said.
“If you’re not a team, it’s impossible to do two open houses at the same time,” Stratton said.
Top Journal Star Photos for September

Lincoln High players Adonis Hutchinson (2), Javon Leuty (22) and Beni Ngoyi (8) walk out of the tunnel before taking on Omaha Northwest on Friday at Beechner Complex.
NOAH RIFFE, Journal Star

Nebraska’s Madi Kubik (top left) reacts after a kill by teammate Lindsay Krause (center) against Loyola Marymount on Thursday at the Devaney Sports Center.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Danish artist Julie Sass works on Wednesday to assemble her show, “IMAGE: temporary constellation,” at Fiendish Plots, 2120 Magnum Circle.
NOAH RIFFE, Journal Star

Nebraska’s Nicklin Hames (center) reacts after a serve by Lexi Rodriguez (right) won the second set for the Huskers at the Devaney Sports Center on Saturday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

A airman walks along the wing of now retired WC-135C/W, during a retirement ceremony for the final “nuke sniffer” aircraft used by The Fightin’ Fifty-Fifth at the Lincoln Airport on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, in Lincoln, NE. The WC-135 Constant Phoenix is a special-purpose aircraft derived from the Boeing C-135 Stratolifter and used by the United States Air Force. Its mission is to collect samples from the atmosphere for the purpose of detecting and identifying nuclear explosions. It is also informally referred to as the “weather bird” or “the sniffer” by workers on the program and international media respectively. The 55th Wing will retired one of it jets and welcomed its latest during a 1 p.m. ceremony at the Lincoln Airport. The Fightin’ Fifty-Fifth officially retired the WC-135C/W and officially welcomed WC-135R tail number 4836 to its fleet. Tail 4836 is the first of three WC-135R deliveries to the wing, while tail 2667 is the last of the old WC-135C/W fleet to be retired.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Construction of the new football training complex has progressed to the point that fans will be able to access the northeast corner of Memorial Stadium this season.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Nebraska’s Anthony Grant (left) tries to break loose from North Dakota’s Marcus Vaughn-Jones (9) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln North Star’s Jace Coleman (14) is tackled by Lincoln Northeast on Thursday at Seacrest Field.
NOAH RIFFE, Journal Star

Nebraska’s Bekka Allick (left) and Nicklin Hames celebrate after a Husker kill against Mississippi in the second set at the Devaney Sports Center on Saturday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Nebraska linebacker Ernest Hausmann takes the field before the game against North Dakota on Saturday. Hausmann, a true freshman, played 40 snaps in the game.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Nebraska’s Lexi Rodriguez (center left) and Madi Kubik (top right) celebrate with their team Kubik’s match-ending kill against Loyola Marymount on Thursday at the Devaney Sports Center.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Nebraska edge rusher Garrett Nelson walks off the field after the Huskers’ win against North Dakota on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
NOAH RIFFE, Journal Star

Mario Garcia of Lincoln, a passenger on the first flight to Houston early Friday, picks up souvenirs at Lincoln Airport’s first flight ceremony.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Nebraska running back Ajay Allen celebrates his fourth-quarter touchdown against North Dakota on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
NOAH RIFFE, Journal Star

Nebraska’s Lindsay Krause (22) hits a ball past Creighton defenders on Wednesday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
NOAH RIFFE, Journal Star

Nebraska coach Scott Frost talks with North Dakota coach Bubba Schweigert before Saturday’s game at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Nebraska’s bench reacts to a play during the match against Creighton on Wednesday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
NOAH RIFFE, Journal Star

Fans arrive at Memorial Stadium before the North Dakota game on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Lincoln North Star players celebrate after winning a softball game against Lincoln Pius X Thursday at Doris Bair Softball Complex.
NOAH RIFFE, Journal Star

Shawna Fosket holds a Super Punch, a punch needle tool she’s worked to develop. A Kickstarter campaign has raised almost $6,000.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Nebraska head coach Scott Frost high-fives a young fan before the North Dakota game on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Southeast’s Henry Woods (top) is brought down by Lincoln East’s Carter Tempelmeyer on Friday at Seacrest Field.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

A first-quarter moon rises over Memorial Stadium toward the end of the Nebraska-North Dakota game on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln High’s Faith Van Eck (left) attempts to block Lincoln Northeast’s Genna LeMay in the second set at Lincoln Northeast on Tuesday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Nebraska head coach Scott Frost walks off the field after the Huskers lost to Georgia Southern on Saturday, Sept. 10, at Memorial Stadium.
NOAH RIFFE Journal Star

S-E-M’s Creyton Line (left) grabs the helmet of Parkview Christian’s Alex Rohrbaugh on Friday, Sept. 9, at Larry and Carol Frost Field.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Nebraska volleyball head coach John Cook (left) talks with Tyler Hildebrand, Long Beach State’s head coach and a former assistant at Nebraska under Cook, on Saturday, Sept. 10, at the Devaney Sports Center.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Nebraska’s Kaitlyn Hord celebrates after scoring a point against Long Beach State on Saturday, Sept. 10, at the Devaney Sports Center.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Eli Soell of Lincoln (right) celebrates a Nebraska touchdown against Georgia Southern on Saturday, Sept. 10, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Georgia Southern’s Kyle Vantrease leaps over Nebraska’s Ernest Hausmann (bottom left) and Luke Reimer (bottom center) to score the game-winning touchdown on Saturday, Sept. 10, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

A look at Nebraska’s light show after the third quarter of the Georgia Southern game Saturday, Sept. 10, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Scott Frost enters a truck to exit Memorial Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 11, after he was fired as Nebraska’s head football coach.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Ashland-Greenwood’s Dane Jacobsen practices throws during warmups before the Bluejays’ game against Aurora on Friday, Sept. 9, in Ashland.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Aurora’s Carlos Collazo (left) is tackled by Ashland-Greenwood’s Logan Sobota (center) and Thomas Spears (right) during a run in the second quarter Friday, Sept. 9, in Ashland.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Lincoln North Star’s Dylan Hallett (3) tackles Kearney’s Kole Throckmorton (91) on Thursday, Sept. 8, at Seacrest Field.
NOAH RIFFE Journal Star

Lincoln Southwest’s Jack Baptista (3) dives for the pylon against Lincoln East on Friday, Sept. 9, at Seacrest Field.
NOAH RIFFE Journal Star

Nebraska wide receiver Trey Palmer (3) can’t pull in a pass against Georgia Southern on Saturday, Sept. 10, at Memorial Stadium.
NOAH RIFFE Journal Star

A Nebraska fan reacts to a missed field goal as time expired in the Huskers’ 45-42 loss to Georgia Southern on Saturday, Sept. 10, at Memorial Stadium.
NOAH RIFFE Journal Star

Sam Simpson on Friday walks through a field of U.S. flags set up in memory of those who died on 9/11, Friday, Sept. 9. Volunteers placed 2,977 flags at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s East Campus and wrote thank you cards for local firefighters, law enforcement and residents at the VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Healthcare System.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

State Sen. Suzanne Geist of Lincoln (left) is cheered on by her husband Mark Geist as she announces her bid to be Lincoln’s next mayor on Wednesday at MoMo Pizzeria & Ristorante.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Supporters of Earnest Jackson, including cousin Millie Rush (from left), mother Brenda Jackson-Williams and cousin Sabrina McGraw, all of Omaha, gather in a circle for 22 minutes in support of him after the Nebraska Board of Pardons denied his request for a sentence commutation Monday at the Capitol.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Nebraska interim head coach Mickey Joseph takes the field with the Huskers before the game against Oklahoma on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Oklahoma wide receiver Jalil Farooq (3) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Nebraska in the first quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
NOAH RIFFE, Journal Star

Nebraska’s Anthony Grant (10) hurdles Oklahoma’s Kani Walker (26) and Damond Harmon (17) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln High’s Liam Thew (33) warms up before Friday’s game between Lincoln High and Grand Island at the Beechner Athletic Complex.
NOAH RIFFE, Journal Star

Lincoln East’s Hudson Davy races toward the finish line in the boys varsity race during the Harold Scott Invite on Thursday at Pioneers Park.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Southeast’s Max Buettenback (25) reels in an interception over Lincoln North Star’s Braeden Sunken (7) and his teammate Nate McCashland (3) during the first quarter Friday at Seacrest Field.
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Cross country runners compete in the Harold Scott Invite on Thursday at Pioneers Park.
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Nebraska’s Bekka Allick (5) reacts after dropping a point in the first set against Stanford on Tuesday at the Devaney Sports Center.
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Workers assemble a set for Fox Big Noon Kickoff show, Friday, Sept. 16, 2022 at University of Nebraska Union, in Lincoln.
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Mickey Joseph speaks at his first news conference as Nebraska’s interim football coach Tuesday. “For right now, my No. 1 focus and the staff’s focus is the players, that we make sure that they’re OK,” he said.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Lincoln East’s Kamdyn Roebke catches a pass against Lincoln Northeast on Thursday at Seacrest Field.
NOAH RIFFE, Journal Star