here's what the Regulations say as to use which both you and your spouse must satisfy for the full $500K exemption
(c) Ownership and use requirements—(1) In general. The requirements of ownership and use for periods aggregating 2 years or more may be satisfied by establishing ownership and use for 24 full months or for 730 days (365 × 2). The requirements of ownership and use may be satisfied during nonconcurrent periods if both the ownership and use tests are met during the 5-year period ending on the date of the sale or exchange.
(i) In establishing whether a taxpayer has satisfied the 2-year use requirement, occupancy of the residence is required. However, short temporary absences, such as for vacation or other seasonal absence (although accompanied with rental of the residence), are counted as periods of use.
It would seem February 2024 is irrelevant becuase it apparently ceased to be your principal residence in January 2024
so while you could close on 1/1/2027 waiting to the last momnent is foolish and would cost you big time if the closing fell through which does happen. what do you plan to do with the NJ property for the 3 years after you move out? rent it? then you must take deprecition and any gain allocable to deprecition can't be exclusded and is subject to section 1250 recapture. then you also might have to deal with a tensant that refuses to move out on a timely basis which can mess up closing. this too has happened. Eviction can take months. what I'm suggesting is that you sell and close well before the deadline.
