The "E" of HOMES (4)
I believe the answer is:
erie
'the e of homes' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for erie that I've seen before include "N. American lake" , "Buffalo's lake" , "Great lake in Eire" , "A Great American lake - sounds spooky" , "The lake sounds weird" .)