Get to Know Matthew Hoffman, Narrator of HGTV’s 'Cheap A$$ Beach Houses'

Long before Matthew Hoffman became the voice behind Cheap A$$ Beach Houses, HGTV’s new show featuring buyers looking for affordable seaside homes, he was a devoted fan of HGTV.

“I grew up watching Candice Olson, Genevieve Gorder and the Property Brothers,” he tells HGTV. “I mean, the theme music of Design on a Dime takes over my entire psyche!”

His first brush with doing voiceovers came in the form of reality television with Love Island USA, but he's moved on, taking a front-row seat watching and narrating as people chase their dreams on Cheap A$$ Beach Houses. Ahead, HGTV sits down with Matthew to find out what drew him to the series, how he injects his humor into home-buying decisions and why affordable beach living resonates so strongly with viewers.

Get to Know Matthew

He Started Performing as a Child

Matthew grew up on Long Island. He landed his first real job at the age of 16, playing Scrooge in front of thousands of people in A Christmas Carol at Madison Square Garden. “I was pulled out of high school and sang in front of thousands of people every night,” says Matthew. He then attended the Boston Conservatory, earning a BFA in musical theater. “What I’ve taken away from that education is discipline, technique and a strong work ethic.” In addition to Cheap A$$ Beach Houses, Matthew is a special correspondent on Extra and a contributor to ABC’s The Year: With Robin Roberts. He is also the co-creator and host of Fame to Table.

He Never Planned on Being a Narrator

“I had never done a voiceover in my life until the very first episode of Love Island USA,” says Matthew. Hundreds of hours and thousands of recordings later, narration has become a major part of his career. Despite his humor on screen, Matthew laughs at the thought of a comedy pedigree. “Teachers once described me as 'frequently inattentive,'” he recalls. “I don’t think it would come as a surprise to any of them that I’ve made an entire career out of talking.”

For Matthew, HGTV Was a Dream

Auditioning for Cheap A$$ Beach Houses was the easiest “yes” of Matthew's life. “I rewrote my reads, putting them through my lens and the way I speak … not long after, I got the call. I was in the kitchen with my parents and my team was on speakerphone because whenever they call, you know it’s going to be either tremendous or horrible news … and they said, ‘You’re it!’ and I just started crying — genuinely crying — because it was truly a dream come true to be part of the HGTV family.”

He Experiences the Show Like a Viewer

“I watch the show as a fan and record it as a narrator. The biggest compliment is when a viewer remarks, ‘You say exactly what I'm thinking.' A narrator has to earn the right to speak; you can’t just talk through someone’s favorite show because you like to hear yourself. The viewer needs to trust you to lead them along on the journey.”

And He Brings Beach Vibes Into the Recording Booth

Matthew lives in Los Angeles and commutes to his office (a 4-by-3-foot padded studio). “Talk about real estate!” he laughs. “I shot Love Island USA in Fiji, so I was in an environment where you couldn’t help but have the island life rub off on you. After taping the first episode of Cheap A$$ Beach Houses, I was like, 'Something’s missing from this recording experience.' And then I figured it out. I now shoot every episode in a 'cheap a$$ beach shirt.' The most expensive one I purchased was $9! Sometimes, like during the holidays, I even decorate the booth to get me in the beach mood.”

Matthew Loves Beach Life

Matthew grew up on the East Coast and now lives on the West Coast, so he's had access to world-class beaches his entire life. “Even though my skin is translucent [laughs], I’m a fan of the beach. But when I go, I need to be doing something," he says. "You’ve got me for about two minutes before my mind starts playing circus music, because lying out in the sun is not my thing. I have sun hats the size of luxury sedans; they cannot get bigger!”

He Has a Secret Hobby

Matthew spends weekends going to open houses. “I have no shame in pulling up to a $50 million home in my $5 car and walking through these gorgeous homes," he shares. "Cheap A$$ Beach Houses is like Christmas for me because it features three open houses in 26 minutes.”

He Has a Knack for Choosing the Winning Home

“Of all the episodes we’ve done, there’s only one that I didn’t guess correctly,” shares Matthew. “My favorite part of the episode is when I say, ‘The beach house that they picked is …’”

Matthew's Favorite HGTV Show Is My Lottery Dream Home

“Because everyone’s dream is to one day scratch off a ticket and go shopping!”

He Has a Unique Way of Maintaining Vocal Stamina

A quirky prerecording ritual keeps Matthew energized and ready for long sessions. “Twenty minutes before stepping into the booth, I chop up ginger and put it in boiling hot water and down it," he shares. "That, along with an unbelievable amount of Cheez-Its.”

He Wants to Buy Every House on the Show

“Whenever I watch an episode, I’m like, ‘If they don’t buy this house, can I move in?’ Not a show has gone by that I’m not insanely jealous of everyone who has entered escrow on what could be my dream home.”

He Admires Homeowners Chasing Their Dreams

“The biggest takeaway and the heart of this show is the willingness to chase after what you think is your dream life," Matthew says. "It’s about people redefining what success looks like, what home looks like and what happiness looks like. We can all get stuck in our ways a bit and simply go through the motions of life, but everyone on this show is thinking about the next chapter. They're like, ‘I want to live at the beach, let’s go!’”