A "for sale" sign is seen in front of a home in Miami on Jan. 24, 2018. The partial shutdown of the federal government is causing some financial problems for furloughed workers who can't refinance their mortgages or buy homes because lenders can't verify their income. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption
Millennials were the largest group of homebuyers for the fourth consecutive year, according to the National Association of Realtors. Ikon Images/Getty Images hide caption
A sign announces that a Los Angeles house is for sale in November. Richard Vogel/AP hide caption
A new directive from the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which regulates mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, will allow first-time homebuyers to put down as little as 3 percent. Mark Wilson/Getty Images hide caption