[stackskipton]

They get data from all the subscribers, including non-public data like vacancy/rent agreement length/units being taken off the market for various reasons than use that data to determine prices for the subscribers. DoJ is investigating this as Price Fixing which is criminally illegal in United States.

[bcarroll22]

got it, thanks.

so based on this context and some other comments, it seems like the potential crime isn't so much that they use these sources to algorithmically suggest a price or contrived vacancy, it's that their agreement enforces that any of their subscribers has to use their suggestions on price and availability, thus making it likely price fixing. correct?

[notaustinpowers]

There's a few different aspects:

They're using non-publicly data provided by their friends/partners to set rental rates. This data includes lease length terms, de-marketing reasons, etc. They then use this data to set a price on a specific unit. If I used their software and was putting a unit up on the market, they would have the price they recommend. If I disagreed with that price, I wouldn't be able to change it. I had to submit an appeal to RealPage, they would review my appeal, and decide if the rental rate was correct or not. I, as the property owner/management company, have lost all ability to set rental rates myself to the complex I own or work for.

And due to their pricing being compared to their own units, or to their partners units, this amounts to price fixing.

[stackskipton]

Agreement is problematic as well as requirement that they get all this non public data.

If they scraped apartment complexes websites and got public facing pricing data available there, that would be one thing. It's the fact they get all this non public data is extremely problematic part.