The growing momentum in the housing market has brought with it rising home prices and home equity, a tightened rental market and the renewal of the dormant construction and real estate industries. But even as the most glaring problems of the housing crisis begin to fade, millions of people are struggling to buy their first homes or pay for the ones they already have.

Americans who want to own or keep their homes still face three big problems: mortgage delinquency, housing unaffordability and tough lending standards, writes MoneyWatch.