If you purchase a home, put down 20k, sign a purchase agreement and register with the city on a land contract for 3 months

[gangelucci]

And then get a mortgage 3 months later. If you sell the home at two years and want to avoid capital gain or receive the capital gain exemption, what is considered the start of the 2 year exemption? Th

[LeonardS]

Generally, the time period begins when you actually start using the home as your residence.  The home will have to have been your home for at least 2 years during the past 5 years for you to qualify for the capital gain exclusion

[gangelucci]

So from the moment I lived in the home even on land contract it still counts toward the 2 year requirement. I was curious if it only counted if the house was mortgaged in my name.

[AmyC]

The IRS will look at your address, voting records, things like that for your residency period. You have the two years from living there.