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In this monologue, Leigh Thomas Brown explains why many baby‑boomers are reluctant to sell their long‑owned homes. The core issue is the primary‑residence capital‑gains exclusion—$250,000 for single filers and $500,000 for married couples—which has remained unchanged since the 1990s and is not indexed to inflation. As a result, owners who have lived in a house for decades often face taxable gains far exceeding the exemption, creating a substantial tax bill that discourages them from moving. Brown also critiques the government's fiscal stewardship, arguing that taxpayers fund a system that does not produce tangible value, further fueling resistance to paying the tax liability.
