The saint of luxe living

Bespoke Saint Cecilia residence unlocks $2.2 million price tag and exclusive hotel amenities

Full-time concierge? Check. Valet service? Check. Views of the downtown Austin skyline? Check.

All of those features — and much more — can be yours with the purchase of a “bespoke” residence in South Austin that just came on the market at $2.2 million.

The 1,890-square-foot condo, at 110 Academy Dr., is one of seven units at the Saint Cecilia Residences, next to the high-end Hotel Saint Cecilia near South Congress Avenue. San Antonio-based Lake Flato Architects designed the residences, and the Austin-based Bunkhouse Group hospitality company came up with the interior design.

Douglas Elliman Texas, which is marketing the newly built condo, says the property “serves as an urban respite amidst one of the city’s most bustling neighborhoods.” Katherine Stinson, Kris Vermelis, and Stuart Watkins have the listing.

The new owner of the two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo will enjoy:

Private membership at Hotel Saint Cecilia.
520-square-foot terrace.
Private elevator.
Taj Mahal quartzite countertops.
Miele appliances.
Stained European walnut flooring.

Douglas Elliman Texas also has the listing for another condo at Saint Cecilia Residences. This one, measuring 1,490 square feet, is priced at $2.15 million. Its amenities are similar to those of the larger, pricier condo.

The second-floor condo features an elevator that opens into the home's striking main foyer.

Douglas Elliman

The second-floor condo features an elevator that opens into the home's striking main foyer.

luxury downtown hotels home-for-sale

Tax Hike

Texans have the 7th highest property taxes in the nation in 2026

Photo by Venrick Azcueta on Unsplash

Renters are also affected by property tax hikes, the report said.

Property taxes can be a particularly sore subject for homeowners, and a new study has revealed Texans are saddled with the seventh-highest property taxes in the nation.

WalletHub's annual report, "Property Taxes by State," released February 17, found Texas homeowners will pay a median $4,232 in property taxes in 2026. That's based on the state's median home value of $283,800.

Last year, Texans were on the hook for a $4,111 property tax bill based on a median home value of $260,400. And Texas residents are expected to pay $360 more on their property taxes this year than in 2024, when the figure was $3,872.

To determine which states have the highest and lowest property tax burdens on residents, WalletHub's experts divided each state's median real estate tax payment by its respective median home price. The report then used the resulting rates to extrapolate the annual real estate tax that would be paid on a house valued at $332,700, which was the median value for a U.S. home as of 2024 (the year where the latest data was available). All 50 states and the District of Columbia were analyzed.

Texas tied with Nebraska as No. 44 in the national ranking of states with the highest property tax burdens for residents right now. Both states have an effective tax rate of 1.49 percent, the data said.

Still, the property tax burden in Texas isn't as punishing as New Jersey (No. 51), whose residents are shelling out almost $9,600 on their property taxes this year based on a median home value of $454,400. On the opposite end, Hawaii is the state with the lowest property taxes, with residents spending about $2,239 based on a median home value of $839,100

The annual property taxes Texans would pay on a $332,700 home (the 2024 U.S. median home value) added up to $4,961, the report said. For added context, the U.S. Census Bureau found the average American household pays $3,119 annually on property taxes. The study did not measure which states were taxed the most when considering income tax, which Texans does not collect, but 42 other states do.

Austin renters are also affected by rising property taxes despite not owning their homes, WalletHub said.

"While property taxes may seem irrelevant to the 35 percent of households that rent, that assumption misses the mark," the report said. "Whether paid directly or indirectly, nearly everyone bears the cost of property taxes, as they influence rental prices and help fund state and local governments."

Texans should also know that if they believe their home value is not accurately represented by their tax assessor, they can submit a "protest" to have it adjusted. Many homeowners hire an agency every year to argue for a lower appraisal in exchange for a portion of the savings.

According to Walltethub, the top 10 states with the lowest property taxes for 2026 are:

No. 1 – Hawaii
No. 2 – Alabama
No. 3 – Nevada
No. 4 – Arizona, Colorado, and South Carolina (tied)
No. 7 – Idaho
No. 8 – Delaware and Tennessee (tied)
No. 10 – Utah

real estate property taxes texas wallethub reports