Hello JAC02,
Thank you for participating in the Ask the Experts Event. As to your question, I assume you are not in a community property state. If so, you are correct that you can "step up" your basis in the home by half of the increased value at date of death. If you are in a community property state you get to step up the basis to the whole value.
If any improvements made to the home before death increase the basis to greater than your stepped-up basis, use the improved basis number. Any improvements made after death can be added to your individual adjusted basis, whichever one it is.
I hope that helps.
