Frequently Asked Questions

Epcon Communities is a company based out of Columbus, Ohio. Epcon has been building homes and communities since the mid 80’s, primarily in the Columbus, Ohio area. In 2016, Clarity Construction started an Epcon Franchise in the Des Moines, Iowa area which is now known as Epcon Communities & Clarity Construction. Our staff is all locally from Iowa and proud to serve the Des Moines area residents!

Communities built by Epcon Communities & Clarity Construction are not age restricted. Our neighborhoods are designed for the active adult, “downsizer”, or someone who is looking for a low-maintenance lifestyle.

Epcon Communities provide residents with a low-maintenance lifestyle along with several amenities and a strong sense of community. Common Clubhouses, Swimming Pools, Fitness Centers, Walking Trails, Ponds, and Pickleball Courts are just a few examples. In addition to the lifestyle and amenities perks, Epcon homes are designed in a way that allows home owners to age in place.

You do not need a Realtor to purchase a home with Epcon Communities & Clarity Construction. Our New Home Specialists are professionally trained to assist you through the purchase, building, and closing process.

Epcon Communities & Clarity Construction will work with any Realtor who introduces their client to our homes and communities.

While we do allow personalization with the hundreds of finish and structural options available to you, we do not allow true customization. We define customization as altering plans, picking from finishes outside of our offerings, and/or any other custom request that is not already available to you.

Our selection process is designed to be streamlined and easy. This lowers our buyers overall stress and allows us to build high-quality homes with reduced risk of delays or issues during the construction process.

After you have signed a purchase agreement, finalized your options, and put down your deposit your home project will move into the pre-construction phase. During this time, your home plan will be drawn to mirror your options and a permit application will be submitted. Once a building permit is obtained, your home will be scheduled to begin construction.

Yes, we do! Each of our communities will feature Signature Series Spec homes that are available for purchase. Depending on recent sales and the overall construction volume, there are usually four to six Signature Series homes available at any particular time. These homes are designed with our most popular options and structural features. We do our best to offer a variety of home plans, square footages, and price points. Be sure to ask one of our New Home Specialists about current availability!

Yes, we do! Each community features a staged model home for buyers to view! These models are an great representation of our quality, finishes, and options available to you for your new home! Each community will feature a different floor plan, so make sure to speak with a New Home Specialist about seeing them all! You can also view photos of current and past models by clicking here .

At your selections meeting, you will be finalizing your finish and structural selections. You will be assisted by our Sales Manager, Options Coordinator, and Professional Interior Decorator. At the end of the meeting, once all decisions are finalized, you will sign the selections addendum and place your remaining deposit amount.

In an effort to prevent delays, minimize mistakes, and provide you with a home built to the highest quality we do not allow any changes to be made after you have signed your options selections addendum. The only exceptions are electrical and audio visual items selected at your electrical meeting and closet shelving adjustments (if any) made with our shelving provider.

Don’t let fear of a price tag stop you from finding your perfect home; the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program can take some of the stress out of the purchasing process by letting you preserve your cash and increase your purchasing power. The HECM program is insured by the U.S. Federal Government and available through a Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-approved lender. This loan option allows buyers to make a one-time down payment with no monthly mortgage payments. Homeowners association dues, property taxes, and insurance payments must remain up to date.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CHECK OUT OUR GUIDE TO HECM

We do not have a preferred lender, but we can provide referrals if needed.

If you plan to finance your home, you will need to provide Epcon Communities & Clarity Construction with a pre-approval letter stating that you are able to obtain the financing that covers the cost of your new home. If you plan to pay cash for your home, you will need to provide a letter from your bank, financial advisor, or other legally recognized institution stating that you have the funds to cover the purchase price of your home. Your pre-approval or proof of funds needs to be provided at the time you sign the purchase contract.

You should consult with your lender about your rate locking options. Lenders may be offering rate lock programs allowing you to lock in your rate early. Typically you need to be in contact with your lender at least 60 days prior to closing so that your lender can begin processing your loan.

We allow two site visits during construction of your home. These site visits need to be scheduled with your New Home Specialist and a representative of Epcon Communities & Clarity Construction needs to be present during each visit. We understand that this is an exciting time, but we do ask that buyers refrain from entering their home during construction in an effort to promote safety and allow our sub-contractors to work without distraction.

A typical building timeline from the time the shovel hits the dirt to completion is five to six months. Due to our local climate, weather can play a factor in the scheduling of certain phases of construction. Your New Home Specialist will keep you up to date throughout the process.

Each buyer has the opportunity to conduct a final walk through of their home prior to closing. These walk throughs are scheduled around seven days before closing. The walk through is designed to be an introduction to your new home. You will learn about the HVAC and other mechanical systems, appliances, and have an opportunity to have your questions answered. A room by room inspection takes place to ensure quality construction.

To ensure accuracy, closing dates are set once the home has completed the drywall phase of construction. This is typically two months prior to closing and will allow you as the buyer time to prepare to close on your new home.

Your monthly HOA dues go towards mowing, irrigation, fertilizing, snow removal, and common area upkeep. Our associations do not maintain the exterior of the homes. In addition to the services already listed, your dues provide you with a clubhouse facility, swimming pool, and fitness center. There may be additional amenities and/or services provided at specific communities. Please consult with a New Home Specialist for details on the community of your choice.

Fencing rules will vary in each community. In the majority of our communities, fencing is allowed but is restricted to black wrought-iron fencing and privacy fencing. Any fencing that is added must first be approved by the HOA. Please consult with a New Home Specialist to learn more about fencing in the community of your choice.

If you are planning on adding additional landscaping or installing a fence, you need to put in a request with the HOA at your community. You will need to have a plan drawn up by the contractor that you are using showing the exact dimensions and other details of your planned additions. Your request and plan will need to be provided to the Home Owners Association Board or Declarant for approval.

Monthly HOA Dues may vary at different communities. $275.00 to $300.00 per month is what you can expect to pay monthly. Consult with a New Home Specialist to learn more about the dues at the community of your choice.

The Declarant will be in charge of the HOA until the last unit in the development is closed. At that point, the home owners will elect a board of their peers to manage the association.

The pools are intended to be relaxation pools rather than lap pools. Hours are determined by the HOA at each specific community.

Guests are required to be accompanied by a resident to use any community amenities. Certain amenities may have restricted hours for resident use only.

The common living area/kitchen of the Clubhouse is available to be reserved at no cost to a resident. All other amenities are not available for reservation. Reserving of the Clubhouse must be done through the property management company.