It was the year of the record smasher.

At $45 million, the February 2016 sale of an oceanfront Laguna Beach landmark became the priciest home ever sold in Orange County.

It towered above the county’s nine other priciest home sales, which ranged from $28 million to $13.8 million.

The homes in our quest for nosebleed-section sale prices included the most expensive off-water house ever sold in Newport Beach; a Newport Coast house with a tricked out garage that parks 25 cars; and a home, built seven decades ago, touted as the last remaining oceanfront cottage in Laguna Beach’s Emerald Bay.

Even luxury homes where the air is less rarefied had a remarkable year. More luxe homes sold in Orange County in 2016 than ever before, according to Steve Thomas of Reports on Housing.

CoreLogic reported a record 1,571 Orange County homes sold for $2 million or more in 2016. Transactions at $2 million or more accounted for 4.1 percent of all local home sales, up from 3.8 percent in 2015.

“Orange County’s luxury home market has been pumping on all cylinders,” Thomas said.

Here are the 10 priciest Orange County home sales of 2016, according to Property Shark, the California Regional Multiple Listing Service and other records:*

1101 Marine Drive, Laguna Beach: $45 million

SIZE: 2,308 square feet, 3 bedrooms

HOME: The unique estate has two headlands projecting hundreds of feet into the Pacific Ocean. A three-bedroom cottage, originally built in 1928, and a guest house sit on the lush, 2.3-acre parcel between Shaw’s Cove and Crescent Bay.

The palm-lined parcel includes lawns and gardens. Stairs lead from the bluffs to a cove and adjacent saltwater lagoon. The house has a private gate along the sidewalk, with a motorcourt beyond, adding to the sense of privacy. Before the sale, the home had been in the same family for more than eight decades.

LISTED FOR: The property was priced at $75 million when it hit the market in June 2015. The price dropped to $65 million in October 2015 and $45 million the next month.

SOLD BY: Rob Giem, then at HOM Sotheby’s International Realty, handled both sides of the transaction. (Giem is now at Compass.)

***

8 Mystique, Newport Coast: $28 million

SIZE: 18,650 square feet, 8 bedrooms

HOME: The three-story home built in 2009 and set on nearly an acre in Crystal Cove became the priciest sale of a Newport Beach house not set along the ocean or the harbor. The house boasts a plush, 16-seat home theater, sports pub, refrigerated wine room that stores 1,200 bottles and a commercial-grade elevator.

Interior highlights include antique, reclaimed fireplaces, ornate, inlaid ceilings and arched floor-to-ceiling windows. A richly appointed tub is the focal point of the master bathroom, set in the center under a chandelier. Between above-ground and subterranean garages, there’s parking for 10 cars.

LISTED FOR: $35 million in September 2016 before selling in late December.

SOLD BY: Rex McKown and Marcy Weinstein were the listing agents; Cindy Chin of Royal Global Real Estate represented the buyer.

***

86 Linda Isle, Newport Beach: $20 million

SIZE: 6,788 square feet, 4 bedrooms

HOME: The contemporary house in the guard-gated Newport Beach community has 113 feet of bay frontage and a dock, and overlooks the harbor and turning basin. The home, featured in Architectural Digest in the 1970s, underwent an extreme rehab in recent years.

The house now includes high ceilings, an open floor plan, formal dining room, island kitchen and an elevator, along with hardwood and travertine floors and fireplaces in the living room and master suite. A heated swimming pool and spa are tucked into a front courtyard, and the dock can accommodate a 60-foot boat.

LISTED FOR: $24.995 million in April.

SOLD BY: Tim Smith and Brian Sperry of Coldwell Banker Previews International listed the home; Smith also represented the buyer.

***

47 Strand Beach Drive, Dana Point: $19.997 million

SIZE: 9,950 square feet; 5 bedrooms

HOME: The Cape Cod-inspired, oceanfront house in the guard-gated community was designed by architect Chris Light and built in 2010. Retractable walls of glass lead to terraces and an infinity pool and spa.

The residence includes a library and artist’s studio, game lounge and bar and stadium-style theater and massage and exercise rooms. A Dutch door, parquet-style wood floors and stone surfaces are among the interior highlights.

LISTED FOR: $24.995 million in April 2015

SOLD BY: John Stanaland of HOM Sotheby’s International Realty was the listing agent; Suzi Dailey of the same firm represented the buyer.

***

102 Emerald Bay, Laguna Beach: $19.125 million

SIZE: 1,910 square feet; 4 bedrooms

HOME: Built in 1948, the home was touted as “the last remaining Emerald Bay oceanfront cottage” and likely the last available for purchase for many years, “perhaps even generations.” But the home was small and dated, especially compared to its newer, flashier neighbors, and the listing noted the property represents an opportunity to design and build something spectacular in the guard-gated community with a secluded beach.

LISTED FOR: $26.5 million in December 2014

SOLD BY: Nancy Casebier and Robert Wynn of HOM Sotheby’s International Realty were the listing agents; Casebier represented the buyer.

***

53 Strand Beach Drive, Dana Point: $17.225 million

SIZE: 8,838 square feet, 5 bedrooms

HOME: “You’ve got to check out the basement,” yelled a real estate agent touring the oceanfront home at an open house two years ago. Agents who rushed downstairs discovered a subterranean view of the beach-front swimming pool through the lower-level bar.

The large master suite offered another surprising flourish: The bathtub boldly showcased by itself in the center of an expansive space. Along with designer appliances in the gourmet kitchen, the home’s features include hand-carved beamed and vaulted ceilings and stone floors.

LISTED FOR: $19.995 million sought as of March 2014.

SOLD BY: Tim Smith of Coldwell Banker Previews International was the listing agent; John Stanaland of HOM Sotheby’s International Realty represented the buyer.

***

1885 Ocean Way, Laguna Beach: $16 million

SIZE: 5,650 square feet, 4 bedrooms

HOME: The two-level house overlooking the crashing waves in Wood’s Cove has floor-to-ceiling glass windows, a formal dining room, and a professional-caliber kitchen with a butler’s pantry, as well as wine storage and a large media room with a wet bar.

Limestone floors and exotic wood cabinetry are among the interior design, as well as Weiland sliders and electronic shades. All bedrooms are en suite; the master includes a fireplace, office and terrace.

LISTED FOR: $16.5 million in June 2016.

SOLD BY: John Stanaland of HOM Sotheby’s International Realty was the listing agent; Sandra Miller of Engel & Volkers represented the buyer.

***

68 N. La Senda Drive, Laguna Beach: $15.442 million

The home is on an oceanfront bluff in the gated community of Three Arch Bay. Other details were unavailable.

***

1 Deep Sea, Newport Coast: $15.025 million

SIZE: 10,600 square feet, 7 bedrooms

HOME: Set on a corner lot with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, the house is a car collector’s haven, with a temperature controlled, 6,000-square-foot garage that can accommodate 25 cars. The garage includes barreled, cobblestone ceilings and a lounge and is steps from a 1,500-bottle wine cellar.

The house, built in 2013, has wide-plank, French white oak floors, unwaxed Venetian plaster walls and imported fireplaces. There’s also an elevator.

An outdoor kitchen, swimming pool and spa and a casita fill out the grounds.

LISTED FOR: $20.995 million in February 2015, down to $17.499 million before the sale.

SOLD BY: Shana Spitzer and Laura Roche of Villa Real Estate were the listing agents; Maggie Heshmatifar of Evergreen Realty represented the buyer.

***

6 Skycrest, Newport Coast: $13.8 million

SIZE: 12,000 square feet, 5 bedrooms

HOME: Set behind its own gates in a guard-gated community, this Pelican Crest home built in 2004 sports a round motor court, paneled library with a wet bar, an elevator and a large theater with a 12-foot screen. Features include a mirrored gym and heated floors.

The great room has distressed wooden floors and an imported antique fireplace. The house offers views of the Pacific Ocean, coastline, Newport Harbor and local mountains, along with more than 1,000 square feet of decks, and a swimming pool and spa.

LISTED FOR: $16.9 million was sought in July 2015. In February 2016, the home was listed at $16.495 million.

SOLD BY: Rex McKown and Marcy Weinstein, Surterre Properties were the listing agents; Lisa Zhou of Coldwell Banker Platinum Properties represented the buyer.

See more photos of each house in the slideshow.

*Private sales occasionally may be unavailable, but we tried to include them all. Some list price histories are partial.

This story has been updated to note Rob Giem’s current brokerage affiliation.

Contact the writer: mkalfus@ocregister.com Twitter: @mkalfus