Make plans to take part in a special HUD Homeownership Fair on Wednesday, February 5th - in the Headquarters cafeteria or through HUD TV and web cast. The fair is designed for the men and women who work throughout the Department - whether you've worked for HUD for two weeks or more than 20 years. It will demystify the homebuying process and give you the guidance and inspiration you need to become a first-time homebuyer.

From 11:00 am until 2:00 pm this coming Wednesday, HUD employees in Headquarters and across the country will have a unique opportunity to learn the A-B-Cs of homebuying, home financing, the importance of housing counseling and much more. Staff in field offices across the nation are encouraged to watch the satellite broadcast. Anyone who takes part will learn how any HUD employee with the desire and just a little discipline can become a homeowner. Deputy Secretary Alphonso Jackson and Federal Housing Commissioner/Assistant Secretary for Housing John Weicher will open the Fair at 11:00 am. You'll also hear first-person accounts of how HUD employees just like you took action to become homeowners.

Did you ever think that buying a home was out of your reach? Have you tried to buy a home before, but couldn't get a mortgage loan? HUD's Employee Homeownership Fair can show you the A-B-Cs of homebuying - to help you be successful and buy the home of your dreams. The Fair will help you understand what you need to know about the home financing and the settlement process. While all the presentations will be valuable, if you're in HUD Headquarters, you can meet with representatives of 12 organizations from 11:30 am until 2:00 pm.

The homebuying process can be complex: many potential homebuyers who've tried to navigate it on their own became frustrated and just gave up! The HUD Employee Homeownership Fair can help you overcome these frustrations. For example, you can learn more about the importance of housing counseling. There are more than 30 housing counseling agency locations in the Washington, D.C. area alone, and more than 1,400 across the nation. They're available to help HUD employees and any other family or individual who wants to buy a home.

One presentation you won't want to miss will be Marcia Griffin, President of Homefree, a HUD-approved housing counseling agency. This experienced housing counselor will draw a "road map" of the homebuying process and how HUD employees can get the information they need to get started. She'll also offer time-tested advice on who should work with a housing counselor before shopping for their first home.

Plan to attend next week - Wednesday, February 5th - and take the first steps to live your own American Dream. Have questions or want more information? Contact Kitt Rodkey by email (Clyde_K._Rodkey@hud.gov), or by telephone at (202) 708-0614, x 2096.