You qualify for the 121 exclusion IF you sold it, and closed, within 3 years of the day you moved out....not a day more. 

No doubt, it's a risk tho..Naturally I would much prefer something with less overhead that performs well, and I'm willing to buy my way into an established market, but then I'm starting from scratch, and frankly despite having some reasonable tools at my discretion I don't really know how to data mine the entire US.Now that the dust is starting to settle after years of being in the trenches with this duplex, it's clear to really make money with this you have to have a portfolio, as I read in an article from this site, 1 or 2 rentals ain't gonna do it.

So essentially the property cant be sold.

And I’d like to see him post more of his actions as well: sold home, public school, etc.. guess we will have to wait and see. 

After I sold my mother was in and out of rentals.

This original gain NEVER goes away.Actually, on December 31 2016 REGARDLESS of if the property is sold or not, there is a taxable event of recognition on that original gain. 

All that being said, I lucked out because of the 120 or so letters I sent I only got 2 replies, one from the company that sold me the duplex I now have and one saying basically to leave her alone.

I sold him on getting it now and renting it out until he decides to retire and move up there.

We didn’t intend to buy and sell so quickly, and we sold it for what we did because losing the 7ft of land changed our house plans and essentially, we are making no profit.

I spoke with the previous owner today and she told me she sold this vacant land parcel along with an adjoining parcel.