There is no "Realpage stuff for price fixing" that resulted in any price fixing.
That is, it's true that they tried to do it and the software exists. But it doesn't matter, because nobody is actually motivated to join the cartel (defecting is more profitable) and they have no enforcement for it.
im not sure what context youre replying in, but plenty of building managers joined the real page cartel, and successfully raise prices across the board.
That's demand going up with fixed supply because the US made it illegal to build anything. In a market where supply goes up instead (Austin or Minneapolis) their algorithm is going to tell them to lower prices instead.
The claim is that by not renting out some of your properties you can raise rent on the rest. But the way you make money from properties is by renting them, so if everyone else is refusing to do it then you get the rents from anyone who shows up.
That and if you don't rent out a property for long and leave it unused, it'll literally rot because nobody is there to notice squatters or water leaks or etc.
You never have to let any properties rot, you intentionally delay filling them to achieve the desired number of vacancies at any given time. And yes in principle competition is king but in practice it's for suckers.
That is, it's true that they tried to do it and the software exists. But it doesn't matter, because nobody is actually motivated to join the cartel (defecting is more profitable) and they have no enforcement for it.