Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when an owner of real property dies, the property shall continue to receive any property tax exemption it was receiving at the time of death until the decedent's estate is closed, upon the recording of a deed or deed of distribution out of the estate, or after December thirty-first of the year following the date of death, whichever occurs first. This section does not apply if the property becomes ineligible for the exemption for a reason other than the death.