HGTV show helps promote Saipan

A combination shot from the HGTV series Beachfront Bargain Hunter features, clockwise from bottom left, Jeff and Ginger Carlucci, the Grotto, Saipan map, and one of the houses. (Mona Concepcion)

HGTV cable channel has featured Saipan on the latest episode of its series, Beachfront Bargain Hunt, which follows homebuyers who are looking for a beachfront home that fits their budget.

In the episode, former San Diego, California residents Jeff and Ginger Carlucci enjoy the beach life and were looking for a beachfront property that goes within their budget of $275,000. They decided to move to Saipan where they hope to start a barbecue food trailer business.

Local real estate agent Tim Goodwin, who helped the couple find their dream home, said the Carluccis had already been staying on Saipan for more than two years when producers of the show got in touch with him.

Goodwin said that producers of the show from New York got in touch with him in October 2014 and did a Skype interview if it’s okay for him to recreate the Carluccis’ search of their home. The producers approved to do the show in December 2014 and filming started in March.

The Carluccis have been to the Carribean, the Carolina Coast, and Mexico and had heard about Saipan so they went here to check things out.

“The premise of the show has always been that there’s either a U.S. couple, family or an individual that are looking to buy a property that is under $350,000. Usually, their age range is under 45,” Goodwin said.

“We just recreated the whole thing where they checked three different houses, talked about beach living and its amenities. At the end of the episode, they would show the house after the couple had settled in,” added Goodwin, who is the owner and operator of Pacific Rim International.

The HGTV crew came to Saipan in March to film the episode. The filming was supposed to last for only three days but the crew stayed to continue filming for one more day as Typhoon Bavi hit Saipan.

Goodwin, however, said that the property the Carluccis bought is again for sale after they had already left Saipan to go back to San Diego as Jeff had to take care of his ailing mother.

“So far, I had already received two emails from the U.S. inquiring about properties here on Saipan. These are people who are retirees,” said Goodwin, who added that he decided to do the show in order to showcase the beauty of Saipan.

“I have no other reason at all. All I did was have fun but what I wanted was to show the beauty of the island with views of the Banzai Cliff, Managaha, Bird Island, Grotto, and other sites. I want to let the people know that Saipan is the USA’s best kept secret,” Goodwin said.

He said that his target marker is really in Asia like Chinese, Japanese and Koreans. “The people from the U.S. are a different market. Mostly the people from the U.S. who come here and ask about houses are going to work in the government.”

The episode already aired last week but will be re-aired this weekend and Feb. 6.