It provides a large artificial financial incentive to hold onto a property that you otherwise would sell.

I also think it's not right to create this kind of arbitrary, large tax break that only applies in specific circumstances. I think if we're going to have a capital-gains tax (and maybe we shouldn't), then we should keep it simple and not have carve-outs.

If I sell my house while I'm on my death bed, I pay all the taxes. If I wait a week to die first, and then my heirs sell, no tax. This is wrong and unnecessary.