I'm not much on New Year's resolutions, probably because they most often have to do with weight or exercise. With my brutal travel schedule, annual pledges like these are difficult to keep and don't last much longer than the next plane ride or business dinner.

But Alphonso Jackson, Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, suggested a resolution the other day that may not be nearly as tough to realize as many people think. And better yet, once you reach his proposed goal, it should be much easier to maintain than keeping off a few extra pounds or working out more often.

We're talking, of course, about home ownership, a goal to which practically every family in America aspires.

Owning the roof over your head isn't for everyone. Some folks don't want the responsibility, while others don't want to give up the freedom of being able to pick up and move, whether across the street or across the country, almost at will.

But if you hanker to put down some roots, give your kids a place to grow and prosper, become part of a community and build a little nest egg, owning your home instead of renting it from someone else should be one of your top priorities.

"As long as you have a steady salary, good credit, and few long-term debts, purchasing a home is probably within your reach," Sec. Jackson said in a pre-Christmas message. "And by taking things one step at a time, you'll find that buying a home can be a very manageable process."

As the nation's housing agency, HUD is committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development as well as enforces the nation's fair housing laws.

In his message, Sec. Jackson told the story of Theodore R. Johnson, who joined United Parcel Service in 1923 when the small package delivery company was still in its infancy.

Although Johnson eventually became one of the company's vice presidents, he never made more than $14,000 per year. But despite his relatively low salary, Johnson dedicated a portion of every paycheck to investing. And by his 90th birthday, Johnson had accrued nearly $70 million.

Today, Johnson's legacy lives on through a scholarship foundation he created before his death.

Johnson's story is not typical, but it illustrates the idea that accumulating wealth can lead to a better quality of life, Jackson said. And as the nation's top housing official, he understands full well that wealth accumulation through homeownership is the key to financial independence and self-sufficiency.

"Homeownership brings countless benefits," he said. "When you make a mortgage payment, you're building equity, which is an investment in your family's future. Owning a home can qualify you for tax breaks that actually lower your monthly out-of-pocket costs. And homeownership provides the kind of freedom, stability, and security that is attainable in few other ways."

Sec. Jackson said that wanna-be owners are often surprised to learn they don't need all that much money to buy their first homes. He also said there is plenty of guidance available for those who are having trouble navigating their way through what can be a bewildering maze of forms and an unending number of difficult decisions.

"Downpayments are less intimidating than you might think," the HUD official said.

"Only a few years ago, conventional loans required 10 to 20 percent down on the purchase of a home. Today, downpayments are significantly lower, and with good credit, you may qualify for an FHA-backed loan that only requires a downpayment of 3 percent."

There are plenty of other mortgage options available, too; some with little or nothing down. And some rookie purchasers may even be eligible for help with their downpayments and closing costs through HUD's new American Dream Downpayment Initiative.

Throughout the buying and lending processes, numerous sources of advice are available. HUD-certified experts in ownership counseling know the pitfalls, for example, and how to avoid them. And if you have tarnished credit, housing counselors can help you restore your credit and put you on the path to owning a home.

Uncle Sam isn't the only one who can offer sound advice. So can the thousands of professional real estate sales agents and mortgage loan officers who take pride in the fact that they help people realize the American Dream. They're easy to find, too; just ask a friend or family member who has already made the leap. They'll be only too happy to recommend a good one -- or, just as importantly, direct you away from a not-so-good one.

"Buying a home is one of the most important steps a family can take toward realizing the American dream," Sec. Jackson said. "So for 2005, consider making a resolution to buy your first home. HUD and our partners are here to help ensure that this is one resolution you keep."

More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and www.espanol.hud.gov.

Published: December 29, 2004

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

When Lew Sichelman first started writing about housing in 1969, he was the youngest real estate writer in the country. Now, 37 years later, he's one of the oldest -- and most decorated. He has been rated the top housing columnist in the country by the National Association of Realtors as well as by his peers in the National Association of Real Estate Editors. Indeed, NAREE has recognized his work on numerous occasions. One year - due to his advancing age, he can't recall which one - he earned top honors in the annual NAREE Journalism Contest in three out of the four major writing categories. It was the first time one writer has won so many NAREE awards in a single year. Known for his ability to make even the most difficult topics understandable, Sichelman also has been honored by the National Association of Home Builders and the Mortgage Bankers Association. He began providing in-depth coverage of and consumer-oriented information about housing and housing finance at the Washington Daily News, where he was real estate editor. He held that same position for nine more years at the Washington Star, which purchased the News in 1972. The Star, a so-called "writer's newspaper" which also had the misfortune of being an evening paper, was put out of its misery in 1981, and Sichelman, who had begun self-syndicating his column in 1978, decided to become a full-time columnist. Today, his column, "The Housing Scene," is distributed by United Media to newspapers throughout the country. He also is on the staff of National Mortgage News, an independent newspaper which is considered the bible of the mortgage business. And he writes for numerous other publications, including MarketWatch.com, where he answers readers questions once a week, Sports Illustrated (don't ask), RealtyTimes.com, BigBuilder and others. Sichelman is married, the father of five and grandfather of eleven.