introducing the st. regis

New luxury high-rise off Buffalo Bayou promises coveted locale and elite perks

The new high-rise promises sweeping views of Buffalo Bayou and downtown.

Photo by Lance Childers/courtesy of Houston First Corporation

Inner Loop professionals, Houston-area empty-nesters, and those who love the lock-and-leave lifestyle can look forward to an elevated option for luxe living. Houston-based commercial real estate firm Satya and its CEO Sunny Bathija have announced on The St. Regis Residences, Houston, a new high-rise condominium development.

Satya is partnering with powerhouse global brand Marriott International on the project. This 35-story condo marks the first, exclusive development in Texas for the St. Regis brand, a luxury residential offshoot of Marriott.

The St. Regis Residences, Houston will loom over some four acres of prime real estate in Asbury Place, offering unobstructed views of River Oaks, Memorial Park, Buffalo Bayou, and downtown.

Groundbreaking is expected some time in 2025, with an expected completion date around Q4 in 2027. Green space enthusiasts will delight in private owner access to the new Buffalo Bayou Trail, which will run along the development’s south side. For some visual perspective, the project will be adjacent to River Oaks and Lazy Lane Boulevard — an enviable address, indeed — and will technically be walking distance from the cherished Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens and even Memorial Park.

As one would imagine, owners will enjoy myriad perks from St. Regis brand’s global membership privileges. Those include butler services to attend to virtually any need, a full-time concierge, doorman, and valet parking, per press materials.

Curated amenities include a pool, fitness center and movement studio, wellness services, a cognac room with wine storage, a golf simulator (perfect for practice before hitting Memorial Park), a kid’s activity center, pet spa for pampering, and boardroom and business center for the ideal work-from-home situation in arguably Houston’s most prestigious residential quadrant.

“We are proud to collaborate with Marriott International to launch The St. Regis Residences, Houston,” said Satya CEO Bathija in a statement. “The St. Regis brand is known globally for its unrivaled level of luxury, its innovation and commitment to impeccable service. I have had the privilege of ownership at the Marriott’s branded residences in Sunny Isles Beach Miami and am excited to share the legendary St. Regis lifestyle with fellow Texans.”

Credit goes to Bathija for making a bold claim on some of the last remaining Tier 1 Inner Loop land. Those familiar with commercial and residential real estate will no doubt recognize Satya as the firm worth more than $500 million and behind tony properties such as The Sophie at Bayou Bend, Giorgetti Houston, Westmore, Hyatt Place and Hyatt House Houston Medical Center.

As CultureMap reported, Satya has ventured outside Greater Houston to launch the luxe Tiara on the Beach coast-facing condominiums in Galveston. But for now, Bathija’s focus is back to bringing luxury living to the Inner Loop — with a global brand partner.

Tiara on the Beach Galveston rendering Houston-based Satya is behind Tiara on the Beach, Galveston's first luxe condo in 15 years. Rendering courtesy of Bogza

“The St. Regis Residences, Houston represent the best address in the heart of the coveted River Oaks community,” said Sarah Khalifa, VP, Mixed-Use Development, Marriott International, in press materials. “Bringing St. Regis Residences to Houston has always been a strategic priority for our company, and working with Satya has been the perfect fit as a prominent local developer—coupled with Sunny Bathija’s experience as an existing Residence Owner in our portfolio. His commitment to the lifestyle we offer will undoubtedly pull through in this iconic project.”

THE AMERICAN DREAM

How long it takes to save for a home down payment in Houston

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Houstonians don't have to save long to afford a down payment.

Saving for a down payment remains one of the biggest barriers to homeownership nationwide, but a new report from Realtor.com shows San Antonio area buyers face a far shorter wait than most Americans.

According to the real estate site’s 2025 analysis, the typical U.S. household needs seven years to save for a standard down payment, a notable improvement from the 12-year peak in 2022. Still, the timeline remains roughly double the pre-pandemic norm, reflecting higher home prices, larger down payments, and lower household savings rates.

Houston, however, stood out as one of the most accessible major metros in the nation. The Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands metro boasted one of the shortest time sto save for a down payment among the nation’s 50 largest markets, with households needing just 3.5 years to reach a typical down payment, according to the study.

The report found that Houston’s median down payment from January through November was $14,927. A median household income of $83,452 was estimated to produce an annual savings of $4,228. Notably, San Antonio, the only other Texas city included in the report, had the shortest time to save for a down payment at just 1.3 years.

Nationally, the time needed to save has shortened as home price growth cooled and affordability modestly improved. Still, saving for a down payment takes significantly longer than it did before the pandemic.

“Higher home prices and intensified competition have pushed typical down payments higher, at the same time that inflation and rising household expenses have reduced savings rates,” said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com, in a release. “Although conditions have improved since 2022, today’s timeline shows that saving for a home takes meaningfully longer than it did before the pandemic, especially in high-cost markets.”

Lower savings rates have played a key role. The U.S. personal savings rate has averaged 5.1 percent of income so far in 2025, down from the pre-pandemic norm of 6.5 percent, limiting how quickly households can build funds for upfront housing costs. Meanwhile, the typical down payment has more than doubled over the past six years — rising from about $13,900 in the third quarter of 2019 to $30,400 in the third quarter of 2025.

In high-cost coastal metros, the impact is far more severe. Saving for a down payment can take 20 to more than 35 years in California cities like San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, and San Diego, effectively sidelining many first-time and moderate-income buyers.

“In high-cost markets, the typical down payment alone exceeds a full year of household income,” said Hannah Jones, Realtor.com senior economic research analyst. “That reality makes homeownership feel unattainable for many buyers, particularly younger households trying to enter the market for the first time.”

Despite those challenges, the report notes that roughly three-quarters of Americans still consider homeownership part of the American dream. Realtor.com says easing rents could help first-time buyers save more, while repeat buyers may use accumulated savings to reduce loan balances and manage higher monthly payments.

“Saving consistently, even in small amounts, is a meaningful first step toward homeownership,” Jones said. “In today’s market, building that financial cushion can make a real difference when buyers are ready to act.”

home market economy down payments home ownership real estate