When a taxpayer dies, the tax basis of the property is the value of the property on the date of death. As such, if property is sold for this date-of-death value, there is no gain or loss.
A retirement account to which up to $4,000 (or $5,000 if you are 50 or over) may be contributed for 2007, but deductions for the contribution are restricted if you are covered by a company retirement plan. Earnings accumulate tax free.