The question of whether a housing unit is ordinarily inhabited in the year by a person must be resolved on the basis of the facts in each particular case. Even if a person inhabits a housing unit only for a short period of time in the year, this is sufficient for the housing unit to be considered "ordinarily inhabited in the year" by that person. For example, even if a person disposes of his or her residence early in the year or acquires it late in the year, the housing unit can be considered to be ordinarily inhabited in the year by that person by virtue of his or her living in it in the year before such sale or after such acquisition, as the case may be. Or, for example, a seasonal residence can be considered to be ordinarily inhabited in the year by a person who occupies it only during his or her vacation, provided that the main reason for owning the property is not to gain or produce income.

Maybe you could sell before the end of 2009 and rent till you go home.
Saves worrying doesn't it?

Where an individual ceases to be a resident of a Contracting State and by reason thereof is treated under the laws of that State as having alienated property before ceasing to be a resident of that State and is taxed in that State accordingly and at any time thereafter the individual becomes a resident of the other Contracting State, the individual may elect to be treated for purposes of taxation in the other State as if the individual had, immediately before ceasing to be a resident of the first-mentioned State, sold and repurchased the property for an amount equal to the lesser of its fair market value at that time and the amount treated for the purposes of taxation in the first-mentioned State as realised by the individual under such deemed alienation. However, this provision shall not apply to property any gain from which, arising immediately before the individual became a resident of that other State, may be taxed in that other State.