DOJ drops RealPage antitrust case

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Today's newsletter is 624 words — a 2.5-minute read.

1. DOJ drops RealPage antitrust case

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has closed its criminal investigation into RealPage’s pricing practices in the multifamily rental housing industry, according to a new release from RealPage.

The DOJ had filed an antitrust case against the company in August, accusing it of engaging in price-fixing and creating a landlord cartel. However, RealPage argues that the case lacks merit, disputing allegations of monopoly power and market dampening.

2. Sueba USA completes apartment and townhome development in Katy

Sueba USA has completed San Paseo, a 293-unit apartment community located at the northeast corner of I-10 and the Grand Parkway in Katy.

The development consists of 273 apartments and 20 townhomes. The apartments offer studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom floor plans ranging from 496 to 2,088 sq ft.

The townhomes offer three different layouts, with an average size of about 2,450 sq ft. Rents for studio apartments start at $1,170.

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3. Catch up quick

🎉 Christy Gessler named 2025 chairperson of Texas REALTORS. (PRNewswire)

🏢 Office-to-residential conversions are gaining traction. (CREDaily)

🛑 Texas vehicle inspections will see their final day on December 31. (MySA)

🏙️ Over 40% of Dallas neighborhoods experiencing gentrification. (Axios)

✨ Five design trends that will dominate 2025. (Zillow)

🏛️ The New York Times claims NAR has a political agenda. (WRENews)

🌌 Fun read: Asteroid named after a University of Texas professor. (KVUE)

4. EasyKnock, a company that turned homeowners into renters, abruptly shuts down

EasyKnock, a real estate company offering controversial sale-leaseback deals to homeowners, announced Thursday that it is going out of business.

These transactions allowed homeowners to sell their properties to EasyKnock and continue renting, often targeting those with poor credit. However, an investigation revealed that many customers lost significant equity, and few were able to repurchase their homes.

The lawsuits against the company, the state attorneys general investigations, and the company’s sudden closure call into question the viability of these residential sale-leaseback deals.

5. Listings are staying on the market longer

The housing market experienced notable changes in November, with homes staying on the market for an average of 62 days—11 days longer than the same period last year, according to Realtor.com’s latest market update.

• 16.7% of homes on the market had their asking prices reduced, which is 1.3% lower than last year. Active listings rose by 26.2% year-over-year, while new listings saw a modest 2% increase during the same period.

Regional inventory shifts were most pronounced in the South, which saw a 34.8% increase in housing inventory year-over-year. Other regions also saw gains, including the West (+29.2%), Midwest (+18.9%), and North (+9.7%).

6. Homebuying optimism at the highest level in nearly 3 years

The Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment index increased by 0.4 points in November to 75, marking the fourth consecutive month of upward momentum. The index has jumped 10.7 points in the past year.

The index is at its highest level since February 2022. However, the respondents still show some reluctance to close the deal, with only 23% of the 1,000 individuals polled saying it's a good time to buy a home.

Despite the relatively small share, the percentage has risen significantly from a year ago, when it dropped to a survey low of 14%. Overall, the findings suggest increased optimism for the coming year.

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