How do I qualify for a larger home sale exclusion if I'm a surviving spouse?

You may be able to increase your exclusion amount from $250,000 to $500,000. You can take the higher exclusion if you meet all of these conditions:

1. You sell your home within two years of the death of your spouse
2. You haven't remarried at the time of the sale
3. Neither you nor your late spouse took the exclusion on another home sold less than two years before the date of the current home sale
4. You meet the two-year ownership and residence requirements (including your late spouse's times of ownership and residence if need be)