Seller wants to wait a year for tax purposes?

[Butch Greene]

Looked at buying an AirBNB that we know about. House is rented out regularly but also has a 2nd homesite that has a septic installed & perked for 2 Bed. They've got a travel trailer sitting on the septic for the time being.

When we reached out, owner simply said they needed to hold off on selling it until next year b/c they sold their primary residence this year.
Don't know much about tax implications of selling primary residence in the same year as a rental.  

BUT...it's right next door. We could use the RV/septic to build my dad a little house to get him closer to us & rent the other house out to pay for as AirBNB or leased.  

What options do we have for locking in purchase of the property NOW & him avoiding the tax hit of an immediate sale before it goes back on market next year. Don't think a 1st right of refusal would be beneficial.  There are buying frenzies in this area b/c of low inventory.  

[Kevin Sobilo]

@Butch Greene, they may have lived in their primary residence a short period or profited so much as to exceed the tax exemption amount for selling a primary residence. So, it sounds like they are paying a tax bill on that sale.

To lock in your purchase, you can buy an "option" from them. You pay them something now for the written right to purchase the home at a later time.

For example, you might pay them $2k now for the right to buy the property no sooner than 12 months from now and no later than 24 months from now for $100k. You obviously want a lawyer to guide you and to handle the legal work on something like this.