Sales of existing homes decline for the fourth month in a row, mainly due to higher home prices combined with higher mortgages rates. The one thing that could help some people buy a home is the fact that the 3 percent down mortgage is making a return.

For just a 3 percent down payment, certain consumers can now get a loan from both government-sponsored lenders (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) for a home purchase or refinance transaction, which means the agency will finance up to 97 percent loan-to-value.

WSB Consumer expert Clark Howard says, "we are back to something that a lot of people said would never happen again."

He says the credit score required to qualify for a loan is much lower now too. "A credit score as low as 620 or 640 could qualify you for one of these 3 percent down mortgages," says Howard.

Is it a good idea? Howard says he has mixed feelings about. It can be good for first-time homebuyers in some situations, but he also doesn't love the easy access to low down payment mortgages as an overall trend.