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Homes, easy to manage, son: about half a mile (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

domiciles

'homes' is the definition.
(I know this)

'easy to manage son about half a mile' is the wordplay.
'easy to manage' becomes 'docile' (I've seen this before).
'son' becomes 's' (genealogical abbreviation for son).
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'half a' means to take half the letters.
'docile'+'s'='dociles'
'mile' cut in half is 'mi'.
'dociles' enclosing 'mi' is 'DOMICILES'.

I've seen this clue in The Everyman puzzle in The Observer.
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