Most of what is coming out in this new Dodd bill is absolute BS from both a lending and consumer standpoint. With the GFE changes of last year to even the way loan officers will be paid under the new regulations changing, the borrower has never once been the priority. It is a CYA approach by the gov't at this point.
Non-conforming loans and jumbo loans have always had their own set of rules. Anything fha, fannie, or freddie are merely adjusting their guidelines, or adjusting their risk; i.e. April 18 FHA monthly premiums are raising again along with the upfront mortgage insurance.
If we keep letting strictly a reactionary congress/committees and attorneys rewrite lending here in the US it will be most unfortunate.
Long story short, it was actually fun and responsible for a couple of years...but that looks to be pretty well past at this point.
I forgot to add...but as far as the watering down of this bill is exactly what I am hearing. Reason being is the new costs created by actually monitoring and enforcing this monster will be outrageous...for the taxpayer it protects...