Algorithms Driving Rent Prices | San Jose News

California’s housing crisis is exploding — rents have soared 44% in real terms since 2000, while incomes barely kept pace. Software giants like RealPage, which controls 80% of landlord rent-setting tools, are quietly turning the market into a coordinated cartel, making competition obsolete. Faced with lawsuits and failed legislation, lawmakers are left scrambling to regulate algorithms that profit from rent hikes — as similar abuses creep into gas, freight, and groceries. The question isn’t if tech can manipulate markets — it’s whether we’ll let it. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/09/16/opinion-californias-rent-crisis-housing-prices-artificial-intelligence-antitrust-affordability-algorithmic-collusion-rob-bonta/ More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/95adfe170415f929 Report issues to [email protected].