Capital Gains Reform Is Gaining Momentum—Here’s What That Could Mean for Buyers & Sellers
At the Rosie Rourke Team, we’re always staying on top of the latest news, laws, and trends that could impact our clients—and there’s a big conversation happening right now that’s worth sharing.
The National Association of REALTORS® is pushing hard for updates to the outdated capital gains tax laws on home sales. Right now, if you sell your primary residence and make more than $250,000 (single) or $500,000 (married) in profit, you could owe taxes on the overage. These numbers haven’t been adjusted since 1997—even though home prices have skyrocketed since then.
That’s locking a lot of homeowners in place, especially those who’ve owned for decades and built up serious equity. According to NAR, about 1 in 3 homeowners today would exceed the cap and possibly owe taxes—and that number is growing fast.
What’s Being Proposed?
Two bipartisan bills are gaining attention:
The More Homes on the Market Act – This would double the current exclusion and adjust it for inflation.
The No Tax on Home Sales Act – This would eliminate capital gains tax on primary residence sales altogether.
Even former President Trump recently voiced support for removing this tax to help ease the housing inventory crunch.
What Could This Mean for You?
If you’re thinking of selling:
You could keep more of your hard-earned equity.
Downsizing, relocating, or making that next move might become much more affordable.
If you’re buying:
With more homeowners likely to sell, we could see more inventory hitting the market.
That means more options and less competition—especially in that sweet spot of family-sized homes.
Of course, nothing is passed yet—but we’re keeping a close eye on it all for you.
At the Rosie Rourke Team, our job is more than just buying and selling—it’s making sure you stay informed, prepared, and ahead of the curve. Have questions? Want to know how this might affect your plans? We’re always here to help.
—Rosie & the Team ❤️