Tina Verstrate Realtor

10/20/2026

If I Sell, What Happens Next?

For many homeowners, the decision to sell isn't just about what their home is worth. It's about what happens after the sale.

Where will you go? What will your next home cost? Will you need to sell before you buy? And how much equity might you have available to help make that next move possible?

These are questions worth exploring long before a For Sale sign goes in the yard.

Understanding your home's potential market value, estimated selling expenses and likely net proceeds can help you evaluate your options with greater clarity.

Sometimes that conversation leads to a decision to sell. Other times, it reveals that waiting, making improvements or simply staying where you are makes more sense.

There's no single answer that works for every homeowner.

The important thing is having enough information to make a decision that supports your goals, your finances and the next chapter of your life.

My October article, "What Does 'Ready' Really Mean in Real Estate?", explores why preparation and understanding your options matter just as much as timing.

Read the full article:
sellingfloridadreams.com/october2026

Christina “Tina” Verstrate
Broker Associate | REALTOR®
EXIT Global Realty
407-969-5299
[email protected]
SellingFloridaDreams.com

Graphic created with AI assistance.

10/13/2026

More Options Don't Always Mean Better Options.

When you're searching for a home, it's tempting to think that increasing your budget will automatically lead to better choices.

Sometimes it does. A modest increase in price might introduce homes with newer roofs, updated systems, more functional layouts or fewer immediate improvements needed.

But a higher price doesn't necessarily mean a better fit.

I encourage buyers to understand their full purchasing power while also recognizing the monthly payment they're genuinely comfortable with.

That way, we can evaluate opportunities thoughtfully rather than simply stretching a budget to see more listings.

The goal isn't to buy the most expensive home you qualify for. It's to find a home that meets your needs, supports your lifestyle and makes financial sense for you.

I explore this approach in my October article, "What Does 'Ready' Really Mean in Real Estate?"

Read the full article:
sellingfloridadreams.com/october2026

Christina “Tina” Verstrate
Broker Associate | REALTOR®
EXIT Global Realty
407-969-5299
[email protected]
SellingFloridaDreams.com

Graphic created with AI assistance.

10/06/2026

What you're qualified to spend on a home and what you're comfortable spending aren't necessarily the same number.

A lender may determine that you qualify to purchase at a certain price point, but that doesn't mean you need to shop at the top of that range.

Your mortgage has to coexist with the rest of your life.

Travel, retirement savings, children, hobbies, vehicles, investments and simply having room for unexpected expenses can all influence what feels comfortable to you.

That's why I like to understand both numbers when working with a buyer. Knowing your full purchasing power gives us useful information, while knowing where you're comfortable allows us to establish a starting range that fits your priorities.

And if the homes we're finding aren't meeting your needs, we can determine whether exploring a slightly different range might give you meaningfully different options without assuming that spending more is automatically the answer.

There's much more about this in my October article, including how your lender can help you work backward from a comfortable monthly housing expense.

Read the full article:
sellingfloridadreams.com/october2026

Christina “Tina” Verstrate
Broker Associate | REALTOR®
EXIT Global Realty
407-969-5299
[email protected]
SellingFloridaDreams.com

Graphic created with AI assistance.

10/03/2026

OPEN HOUSE | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4 | 2–4 PM

1196 Patterson Terrace | Lake Mary, FL 32746
$590,000 | 3 Bedrooms | 2.5 Baths | 2,092 Sq. Ft.

Come see this beautiful 2018-built home in the gated Lake Emma Sound community! This bright, open single-story home offers high ceilings, crown molding, an upgraded kitchen with gas cooktop, a separate den/office, spacious primary suite, and a large screened patio with no rear neighbors.

And there are some seriously useful extras: a whole-home generator, whole-home water filtration/softening system, indoor laundry room with sink, finished garage with epoxy flooring and additional storage, plus NEW SOD COMING SOON!

Come see how all the pieces come together Sunday from 2–4 PM.
Presented by EXIT Global Realty

Open House Hosts:
Christina “Tina” Verstrate, Broker Associate, REALTOR®
Youme Chia, REALTOR®
407-969-5299

AI Generated assistance

10/02/2026

We live and work in Florida. It doesn't matter where in the state, we have a large population of people going through these issues right now, or are just a few years away from going through it. Some of us realtors might very well be heading in this direction as well! Why would we not want to properly educate ourselves to better serve our community, our family, our friends?

I've got my seat at the table, how about you?
October 8th & 9th, 8am-5pm

10/02/2026

🏡 JUST CLOSED | 331 Appaloosa Court

Some closings are about so much more than finding the right house—and this was definitely one of them. ❤️

It was such a joy helping the Rodriguez family find a place to truly call home here in Central Florida.

As a fellow New York transplant, Tina could relate to what it means to put down roots in a new place and find that home that finally feels like home.

Their search was about much more than bedrooms and bathrooms. They needed a home that would work for retirement, a multigenerational family, and this next chapter of their lives.

We toured quite a few homes together. Some looked perfect on paper but didn't feel quite right once we walked through the door. With every showing, they learned more about what mattered most, refined the search, and kept going.

And yesterday, it all came together. 🎉

Congratulations to the Rodriguez family on becoming homeowners! May your new home bring you years of happiness, meaningful memories, and a wonderful new chapter together.

We're grateful for the trust you placed in Tina throughout this journey and honored to have been part of it. ❤️

Thinking about making a move to Central Florida? Sometimes finding the right home takes a little patience, a little refining, and the right person beside you.

Tina Verstrate Realtor
EXIT Global Realty
407-969-5299

10/02/2026

10/01/2026

OPEN HOUSE THIS SUNDAY IN LAKE MARY!

Come see us Sunday, October 4 from 2–4 PM at 1196 Patterson Terrace, Lake Mary!

Offered at $590,000, this 2018-built home in the gated community of Lake Emma Sound offers 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2,092 sq. ft., plus a separate den/office that provides additional flexible living space.

There is a lot to love here, including an open floor plan filled with natural light, high ceilings, crown molding, an upgraded kitchen with gas cooktop and oversized breakfast bar, a spacious primary suite, and a large screened patio with no rear neighbors.

And there are some features you don't find in every home: a whole-home generator, whole-home water filtration/softening system, indoor laundry room with sink, and a finished 2-car garage with epoxy flooring and additional storage.

Sunday, October 4 | 2–4 PM
1196 Patterson Terrace | Lake Mary, FL 32746

Stop by, tour the home, and say hello! Youme Chia and I will be there to show you around and answer your questions.

Christina “Tina” Verstrate, Broker Associate | REALTOR®
EXIT Global Realty
407-969-5299

10/01/2026

What does it really mean to be “ready” to buy or sell a home?

There is rarely a perfect moment when the market, interest rates, finances, family and everything else line up exactly as planned. Being ready is often less about finding that perfect moment and more about understanding your finances, priorities, options and what comes next.

For buyers, that includes understanding the difference between what you qualify to purchase and what you're actually comfortable spending each month. For sellers, it may begin with understanding your equity, timing and what happens after the sale.

And sometimes, after gathering the information, the right next step is to wait. Waiting can be part of the plan, too.

My October article looks at what “ready” can really mean for both buyers and sellers, and why you don't need to have everything figured out before you start asking questions.

Read the full article:
sellingfloridadreams.com/october2026

Christina “Tina” Verstrate
Broker Associate | REALTOR®
EXIT Global Realty
407-969-5299
[email protected]
SellingFloridaDreams.com

Graphic created with AI assistance.