FBI investigates incentives in selling homes

The FBI is investigating some home builders, brokers and appraisers who have used incentives, including cars, credit card payments and cash, to sell homes. Some may have defrauded lenders by not disclosing large incentives, which could have added up to $100,000 to the value of a home. Federal investigators are questioning if the incentives misled lenders and caused them to write inflated mortgages, making the housing downturn more severe.