“The legal protection stems from the Dodd-Frank Act, the sweeping regulatory overhaul passed in 2010 to help repair the financial system. The legislation mandated that loans be affordable, but Congress conceded that banks might fear the legal consequences if the mortgages did not comply. So lawmakers created a type of home loan that would have legal protection, called a ‘qualified mortgage.’ In practice, the protection will make it harder for borrowers to sue their lenders in the case of foreclosure.”
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/12/17/banks-seek-a-shield-in-mortgage-rules/
