Individual SMLLCs for Joint Ownership to Preserve Section 121 Exemptions

[Cody Anderson]

A couple friends and I are looking at co-buying a residential (non-investment) property in California and we're attempting to engineer a vehicle that would allow us to receive the best mortgage terms possible (a la avoiding a commercial loan), preserve the section 121 capital gains exclusion while also realizing the benefits and protections that come with an LLC.

Is it possible to have each owner, that's planning to occupy the property as a primary or secondary residence, establish a single member LLC in a way that gives us the best lending terms while maintaining the flexibility to have individuals sell their ownership interest (via the SMLLC) to someone else without triggering due on sale?