A home on Ono Island has closed as the highest canal-front sale ever recorded on the island after a full interior and exterior overhaul.

The property at 30471 Harbour Drive sold this month for more than $2.7 million, surpassing the previous canal-front record of $2.6 million, according to Multiple Listing Service data used by realtors. The sellers purchased the home in 2021 for $1.1 million and invested more than $1 million in a ground-up renovation that rebuilt or replaced nearly every major structural and cosmetic feature.

Realtor KD Edenfield of Wellhouse Gulf Coast represented the sellers, while the buyers were represented by Dee Marie Fisher and Ashley Matheison of Levin Rinke.

"This sale is significant because it reflects a wider shift happening in Orange Beach's luxury market," Edenfield said.

The renovation included the removal of all original stucco, balconies, doors, windows and compromised exterior materials; installation of Hardie siding and hurricane-rated openings; rebuilt balconies and stairs; new pool decking and resurfacing; expanded outdoor living areas; and major plumbing, electrical and propane infrastructure upgrades.

Interior work included a redesigned kitchen and floor plan, fully reconstructed bathrooms, new flooring, a heated and cooled tackle room and custom cabinetry throughout, among others.

The record sale comes as high-end activity continues to rise across the island.

"We've seen more $2 million+ sales this year than ever before, and this record canal-front closing shows how buyers are increasingly valuing the privacy, protection and lifestyle offered by Ono Island's canals. This home underwent nearly a full transformation, and the attention to design, inside and out, clearly resonated with buyers," he said.

He also said the use of social media has "become one of the most powerful tools we have for helping people visualize themselves in a home,"

The home previously sold in 2005 for $1.2 million, according to public sales history. 

Gabriella Chavez is a Report for America corps member who writes about growth and development in Baldwin County and our natural spaces for Gulf Coast Media. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://tinyurl.com/yaf8yf5n.