The Department of Justice (DOJ) opened its criminal investigation into RealPage, a Texas-based real estate technology company, over allegations of price-fixing in the rental housing market. Initially a civil matter, the probe has expanded to include several multifamily building operators suspected of collaborating with RealPage to set rent prices. RealPage's YieldStar software, which helps landlords set rental prices across the U.S., is at the center of the controversy. With rents soaring, critics argue that the company's proprietary algorithm may be stifacing competition by collecting sensitive data from competing landlords to suggest rents. RealPage denies wrongdoing. The Arizona Attorney General has also commented on housing prices and a lawsuit against RealPage, highlighting the growing legal and public scrutiny the company faces.