Residential lease to own

[Quickquestion13]

For the last 3 years, I have been in a housing lease to own agreement with a large company. My lease contains a price at which I can buy the house at anytime. It has appreciated significantly over the last 3 years so there is quite a bit of equity. 
If I were to exercise my right to purchase and then sell the property, do I qualify for the exclusion on capital gains since I have occupied the property longer than 2 years? Or will I be taxed with short term capital gains?

Also, if I am taxed, can I count my 3 years of lease payments into my cost basis?

[ee-ea]

The law

26USC121(a)Exclusion

Gross income shall not include gain from the sale or exchange of property if, during the 5-year period ending on the date of the sale or exchange, such property has been owned and used by the taxpayer as the taxpayer’s principal residence for periods aggregating 2 years or more.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/121

Short cap gain- owned short time.

Depends on lease. Any payments towards a purchase price?

[Carl]

In addition to being your primary residence for at least 2 of the last 5 years, you also must have owned the property during those two or more years. In order to qualify for the exclusion you would have to wait at least 2 years after closing on the purchase, while still living in the property during those two years after closing on the purchase, in order to qualify for the exclusion.

[Mike9241]

based on what you provided the home sale exclusion would not be available to you. there are two basic rules. occupancy for 2 of 5 years before the sale which based on your statement you meet and ownership for 2 out of 5 years before the sale which you do not meet. you don't own it until you close on the purchase. sale shortly after purchase would be short-term capital gain which would get taxed at whatever bracket you are in. The price at which you can buy the house for is your tax basis,