BETA
Chapter 1
The zoning maze and housing shortage
Chapter 2
Corporate buyers and pricing algorithms
Chapter 3
Federal policies and the suburban shift
Chapter 4
Superstar cities and the remote work boom
YOUR GOAL
Master of Why American rent is high
Ch 2 · Corporate buyers and pricing algorithms
sloane Corporate landlords use standardized systems to add extra fees for amenities, parking, and administrative tasks.
sloane Many large landlords use specialized software programs to calculate rent prices, reducing competition in local markets.
Fun Fact
Corporate buying: In 2021, a single real estate investment firm bought an entire neighborhood of 124 newly built homes in Conroe, Texas, outbidding all individual buyers.
Glossary
price-fixing (noun)
The maintaining of prices at a certain level by agreement between competing sellers. The Department of Justice sued RealPage in August 2024 for enabling nationwide rental rate collusion.
The maintaining of prices at a certain level by agreement between competing sellers. The Department of Justice sued RealPage in August 2024 for enabling nationwide rental rate collusion.
Quiz
What term is used to describe large financial institutions that own and manage thousands of rental properties?
Quiz
What is the primary concern raised by federal investigators regarding rent-setting software algorithms?
Quiz
Unlike individual landlords, corporate landlords optimize profits by frequently charging mandatory fees for which service?
Quiz
Approximately what percentage of homes sold in several major US metro areas were bought by institutional investors in 2022?
Quiz
Which major financial event in 2008 allowed private equity firms to buy American single-family homes in bulk?
Quiz
What software program, developed by RealPage, has faced antitrust scrutiny for suggesting rent prices?