If both the parent and child are married, this allows forgiving up to 4 times the annual gift tax exclusion per year.

So if 3 siblings all buy a house together and all live in it when they sell up to $750k can be excluded.If married only one person needs to meet the ownership requirement-but both must meet the use requirement. 

Congrats on getting married! 

For reference, I am 30 years old and not married.

I'd personally sell the townhouse (doesn't sound like it cashflows or would make a good rental property) - you may have no capital gains if you have lived in it the past 2 out of 5 years - I believe the first 250k for single filers is exempt from taxes and the first 500k for married couples.

This defers capital gains and depreciation recapture taxes on the sale of your fourplex.After converting it into your primary residence, you may qualify for the primary residence capital gains exclusion ($250K single/$500K married), but only for appreciation after the conversion; gains from the rental period remain taxable.

At the time, I had just graduated with a physics degree, landed a great job in the Bay Area, and was newly married.

Some thoughts to consider:If you sell now, you are unlikely to pay capital gains taxes as your first 250k (500k if married and filling jointly) aren't reported.Doing your first rental remotely is undesirable without 1.)

An example was a line item for alimony (I am single and have never been married).

In Florida where I live that amount is the first $50,000 for a married couple are exempt.So to put all that into action, let's say the previous owner paid $100,000 for the property 20 years ago and lived in the property.