The article notes that the software encourages landlords to maximize profitability by raising rents and reducing supply.
> RealPage claims its software will increase revenue and decrease vacancies. But at times the company has appeared to urge apartment owners and managers to reduce supply while increasing price.
Not if the RICO act was used against them, and all rental properties are transferred to the renter in payment for fraud, conspiracy, interstate fraud, etc
Do you honestly think any other property owner would touch companies like this if this one popped like that?
Oh look, the DOJ Antitrust Division uses fraud/false statements laws "to fight illegal activities that arise from conduct accompanying antitrust violations..."[1]. To me this company looks like a $10.2B bet on prosecutorial discretion. Remarkable.
> Ending the crisis by creating housing supply is the way to stop exploiting the crisis.
> If you stop "this one company" you'll just have someone else making profits and still have people homeless.
And this new homes will be bought by ordinary people who for years paid inflated rents and have no real liquidity or corporations/landlords who have profited by renting and have more than enough cash to absorb any new properties that would become available on the market? Because grabbing them allows for a virtual monopoly on home ownership so people are forced to rent. And we have another cycle of capitalism.
“Oh no, someone is clearly doing something illegal, if only we could do anything about it”.
Also we could legislate that apartments must target >80% occupancy in dense areas or face penalties for overpricing.