After several months of construction, two local home builders expect no profits on the sale of a pair of homes in a Waukee subdivision. And next year, they hope to do it again.

Ja-Lyn Custom Homes and Davis Homes of Iowa have teamed up with local contractors to build two homes in an effort to raise money for cancer research. Ja-Lyn owner Nick Letizia expects the project to raise $80,000 to $100,000 for the American Cancer Society’s “Pay Ifs” program, which funds ACS-approved research projects. He came up with the idea after his father, Dan, was diagnosed with lung cancer. Letizia shared an interest in building with his dad, who passed away in November.

“I wanted to do this not only in remembrance of my dad, but because cancer seems to touch so many people,” Letizia said. “My dad was a civil engineer, and he loved to build things.”

Letizia works full-time as a sales manager for Duke Aerial Equipment Inc. and has built homes for the past several years as a second business. He met Chris and Tara Davis, the owners of Davis Homes, through his work at Duke, and told them about his idea to build a house and donate the profits to support cancer research. The cause resonated with the Davises, who have also lost several family members and friends to cancer. They decided to partner with Letizia to build a second home, and help coordinate a large part of the project.

“I told Chris that I knew just enough about home building to be dangerous, and I wondered if they could help, with all the experience they have,” Letizia said. “Chris and Tara took an interest, and the next thing I knew, we had a hole dug and people offering their assistance.”

The houses are located in the Gracewood development, a single-family subdivision north of Hickman Road. One is a 2,200-square-foot two-story priced at $333,700, and the other is a 2,600-square foot ranch priced at $324,900. They’re located about a block away from each other, and both are about 45 days from completion.

Tara Davis said she was impressed with how many local contractors and businesses stepped up by donating time or materials or working for a reduced fee, helping to keep the building costs low.

“The response we’ve gotten from our suppliers and contractors has been great,” she said. “When you ask them to help, most will do it, no questions asked.”

Donations have come from several companies, including Third Day Enterprises Inc., Louie’s Floor Covering, Majestic Construction, Gilcrest/Jewett Lumber Co., Harrington Plumbing Inc., Divine Lighting Landscapes, Orion Construction, O’Callaghan’s Inc. and Andersen Windows.

In addition, Bank of the West gave Letizia a construction loan with no loan fees or closing costs, Baker Electric Co. donated some materials and labor, and the two Iowa Realty agents representing the houses are donating their commissions.

The Davises and Letizia are already talking about building more homes together to support other charities, possibly one house a year. But these first two homes will always hold sentimental value for Letizia.

“When I started this project, I had hoped that my dad would be alive to see it finished,” he said. “But since he passed away, I’ve felt like he’s been there with us, keeping an eye on things.”