Hi friends,

It's been a busy month full of travel - We had the most incredible trip to London and the Cotswolds at the end of August (more about the Cotswolds below) - caught up with friends & colleagues, and am working on some exciting things real estate-wise!

I'm so thrilled you're back for this second edition of Homeward, I truly put my heart into each of these emails and hope you enjoy. Please share with anyone else who you think would like this sort of content, I really appreciate it.

I'm always looking to connect with more clients interested in buying or selling in Summerlin and Henderson. If anyone in your circle is even thinking about it, I'd love to be a resource.

Along those lines, if you’re looking to buy or sell in a different part of the country and aren’t quite sure where to begin, feel free to reach out. I have a lot of great agent connections and recommendations in California, Colorado, and several other states. I’m more than happy to connect you and help initiate the process.

Have a wonderful week and cheers to the beginning of Fall!

Kaylee

FED CUTS RATES - WHAT IT REALLY MEANS

The Fed cut interest rates on Wednesday by 25 basis points (0.25%), the first cut since December 2024. At first glance, many assume this means mortgage rates immediately drop, but that’s not exactly how it works. Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including:

• The 10-year Treasury yield – Mortgage rates tend to move in the same direction as this benchmark.
• Inflation trends – Higher inflation usually pushes mortgage rates up.
• Buyer demand nationwide – Demand for mortgages impacts where rates are held.
• The overall health of the economy – Broader market conditions weigh heavily on lending.

Following the Fed’s move, mortgage rates dipped only slightly, with the average landing around 6.45%. While more rate cuts are expected later this year and into 2026, experts anticipate mortgage rates will hover above 6% for the foreseeable future.

LAS VEGAS MARKET CHECK

Sellers: The fall market here in Vegas may see a slight pickup, but buyer demand remains softer and inventory is higher. That makes presentation and pricing strategy critical. Homes that are priced right and marketed well are still selling quickly, while overpriced or poorly presented listings are sitting longer.

Buyers: More inventory, less competition, and stable pricing create a real opportunity. There’s less pressure to rush, giving buyers the time and leverage to find the right fit. However, as interest rates trend lower, expect more buyers to enter the market, creating more competition.

Whether you're thinking about buying, selling, or just keeping a pulse on the market, I'm always happy to chat.

kaylee@luxuryestates.com | 720.837.3805 | The Austin Sherwood Group at Luxury Estates

LET'S TALK CORTISOL

Cortisol is your body's primary stress hormone, and while it’s essential for survival, it can quickly work against you when it’s constantly elevated. Think of it like your internal alarm system. It rises when you’re under pressure - physical, emotional, or even nutritional - and tells your body to stay alert. The problem? In today’s world, that alarm rarely shuts off.

WHY IT MATTERS:

Chronic cortisol elevation can contribute to:

• Hormonal imbalances
• Weight gain (especially around the midsection)
• Poor sleep or “wired and tired” cycles
• Burnout, anxiety, and mood swings
• Inflammation and blood sugar issues

High cortisol isn't just about "too much stress" - it's often a sign your body feels unsafe: undernourished, under-rested, or overworked. It’s not just mental, it’s metabolic and mineral too.

How to support healthy cortisol levels:

Here are a few gentle, proven ways to regulate it naturally:

• Start your day with light + minerals (we love these little vials of minerals in the AM)
• Eat enough - especially protein and slow carbs
• Limit caffeine on an empty stomach
• Get morning sunlight and go for a 10-min walk (try walking without your phone in hand- it's lovely)
• Regulate your blood sugar by avoiding long fasts if you’re depleted (women especially)
• Create calm rituals like breathwork, baths, journaling, meditating, grounding

Your body is always trying to protect you. When cortisol spikes, it’s not failure, it’s feedback.

THE COTSWOLDS | THE PICTURESQUE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE

Every English person’s dream is to own a “country house” in the Cotswolds, where they can escape the busy city life and return to nature and the quaint serenity of the English countryside. And now, it’s my dream too.

After a weekend in London last month, my husband and I decided to rent a car and drive out to the Cotswolds to see what all the hype was about. After a slightly tense exit through London traffic navigating on the left side of the road for the first time, we drove about two hours northwest to a small town called Lower Slaughter, where we had booked a little home for the week.

“Picturesque” doesn’t even begin to describe how perfect this tiny town is (and every other one scattered across the countryside). Each house and building is made from a beautiful golden-hued limestone that seems to glow, especially at sunset. The winding roads are too narrow for two cars, yet somehow everyone makes it work. Fields of sheep dot the rolling hills, shallow creeks wind their way through village centers, grand estates sit nestled in meadows, and the lush greenery, gardens, and wildlife surrounding it all are exactly what you’d imagine. It's truly right out of one of those old English Romance novels.

Here are some of our favorite towns, shops, pubs, and places we visited. If you ever get the chance to explore the Cotswolds, you won’t regret it.

• Bakery on the Water - In Burton-on-the-Water, got coffee and a pastry here every morning
• Stow-on-the-Wold - The best town for shopping (antiques, home goods, clothes, even a little local brewery shop that Alex was at most of the day while I went from store to store)
• Tara Antiques - In Stow, 3 levels of incredible antiques, endless things to look at & buy
• Castle Combe - A hidden gem of a town tucked into the hillside, not easy to but worth going
• Lower Slaughter - The quiet, adorable town we stayed in, you can take a walking path through the meadows to Upper Slaughter
• Hawkstone Brewery - Jeremy Clarkson's Brewery (he's the guy from Top Gear who bought a farm in the Cotswolds and everything he does is extremely popular with locals & tourists)
• Diddly Squat Farm - Also Jeremy Clarkson's, if you've seen Clarkson's Farm on Prime, you know. Jeremy is probably Britain's biggest celeb behind the King.
• Lacock Abbey - Harry Potter filming location for several Hogwarts scenes
• Daylesford Organic - The Erewhon of England
• Stonehenge - If you're there its worth seeing but not all its hyped up to be IMO
• The Porch House - Oldest pub in England (dates back to the 10th century)
• Barbour - British brand of jackets and outerwear. I got a forest green jacket at one of the local stores and it was so comfortable and perfect for the weather, that I wore it all week.

ACUPUNCTURE WITH HEATHER RODERICK

I'm a big believer in acupuncture. It's a healing modality that has been around for THOUSANDS of years. If it didn't work, people would have stopped sticking needles in themselves a long time ago.

Acupuncture is a safe, effective, chemical-free way to promote your body's self-healing abilities.

If you are looking to try it out or for a great acupuncturist in Las Vegas, Heather is incredible. She has a great energy about her, is able to understand your needs & goals right away, and makes the experience each time relaxing and enjoyable.

Heather used to live and got her degree in San Diego (something we bonded over) and now lives in Las Vegas with her two adorable young daughters. She specializes in fertility and women's health and also practices Chinese Herbology & is a Certified Yoga Instructor.

You can reach Heather by texting her at (702) 592-4019 or see her IG & website below:

​@heather_roderick_acupuncture | heatherroderickacupuncture.com​