Kickbacks as 'a natural part of business' at Fannie Mae alleged

Regulators are keeping a close watch for kickback deals as the housing market heats up and new regulations take hold following the mortgage meltdown, which exposed widespread corruption in the housing and lending markets. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray said his 2-year-old agency has moved to shut down kickback operations not only because they're illegal but also because they reduce competition and increase costs to the public.''