A new HGTV program called “Cheap A$$ Beach Houses” premiered on Wednesday (Dec. 3) and one of the two episodes that aired was produced on Fort Myers Beach.
“Cheap A$$$ Beach Houses” is HGTV’s latest fantasy lifestyle series humorously showing viewers how to own a slice of affordable paradise, or as the narrator said: “Chasing coastal dreams on cheap budgets.” The program is similar to HGTV hits like “Beachfront Bargain Hunt” and “House Hunters.”
The half-hour long Fort Myers Beach episode that aired at 9:30 p.m. featured a husband and wife from Flint, Michigan (Ryanne and John) who were working with Glenn Huggins, representing Premier Plus Realty. The couple also have a newborn son, Charlie.
The couple’s wish list wasn’t long.
They said they are coming from a place up north where the sun will not be seen for days, or even weeks. They narrowed their Fort Myers Beach search to one to two bedrooms, or “something small.” Also: turnkey, a pool and something with views and proximity to water.
And their budget? $200,000-$500,000.
Early in the episode Huggins pointed out all of the great things Fort Myers Beach has to offer from boating and jet-skiing, fishing, bars and restaurants and of course, the beach. There was even a shot of the famous Times Square Clock.
Huggins showed four properties during the episode.
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Beach Bay Lane − a two bedroom, two bathroom condo that was newly renovated for $420,000. It was on a canal and had access to tennis and pickleball courts and a pool.
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The Octagon House – a single family home that was just 844 square feet, but is surrounded by million dollar homes, Huggins said. It featured hurricane impact windows (the only mention of hurricanes in the entire episode) and boating access. It was “unique” and the shape − yes, it was an octagon − was a deal breaker for the couple, who didn’t know how where the couch would go. The asking price? $545,000.
After seeing these two properties, the ask from Ryanne was to see places where they could “put their toes in the sand.”
Huggins went further south and took the couple to the Estero Beach and Tennis Club condominiums and showed them two properties. Huggins called it “one of the most popular locations on Fort Myers Beach, especially on the south end.”
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The first listing they saw was a 517 square-foot one bedroom and one bathroom condo on 11th floor listed for $440,000. Amenities included tennis, boche and a swimming pool. It was “too small” for Ryanne and John. The bathroom needed to be renovated and a neighboring salmon-colored condo hindered their view. But the beach in front of the condo? “Beautiful and clean,” they said.
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In a last-ditch effort to connect the couple with a favorable listing, Huggins stayed at the Estero Club and took John and Ryanne to the penthouse, which was listed for $499,000 (right at the top end of their range). It had one bedroom and one bath, more convenient access to the pool and the clincher: “You cannot put a price on this view,” Ryanne said.
They ended up paying $480,000.
It was a happy ending for all involved.
The Fort Myers Beach episode of “Cheap A$$ Beach Houses” was preceded by an episode featuring a couple looking for a property on Virginia Beach.
There are 16 half-hour episodes scheduled for the new program.
Streaming subscribers can catch the episodes the next day on HBO Max and Discovery+.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: HGTV’s new show about cheap beach houses goes to Fort Myers Beach