Whistleblower Who Exposed the RealPage Price-Fixing Scandal Releases New Book 'Priced Out by Design,' Revealing AI's Impact on the Housing Crisis
BISWIRE/April 22, 2026 — James M. Nelson, known as "The Man behind the RealPage Lawsuit," a long-time banker turned investigative researcher whose work with ProPublica exposed the RealPage rental housing price-fixing scandal—triggering over 30 lawsuits and a DOJ complaint—has release his highly anticipated book, "PRICED OUT BY DESIGN: How AI, Big Data, and Corporate Landlords Crashed Our Housing Market, and How to Fix It."
OVERVIEW:
The rental housing landscape is undergoing its most radical transformation in centuries, driven by AI-powered pricing software, big data, data centers, and automated tenant screening. But as these technologies become standard, they bring unprecedented legal and ethical risks.
In Priced Out by Design, the critical questions facing every industry participant are finally answered:
- How does algorithmic price fixing actually function, and where is the line between optimization and collusion?
- What are the consequences of AI-driven tenant selection on your liability and reputation?
- How are digital operating platforms reshaping the relationship between Main Street and industry pricing cartels with monopoly power?
Priced Out by Design cuts through the jargon to reveal how these technologies affect your bottom line, your legal standing, and the future of the housing economy.
Read Nelson’s most recent interview:
Read the interview with Nelson conducted by Franco Faraudo, Editor at Propmodo, published on February 22, 2026, titled: "The RealPage Settlement Won’t End the Fight Over Revenue Management Software." Nelson shares his perspective on the Department of Justice's settlement with RealPage and expresses concerns about how such settlements might affect the multifamily real estate market. What will happen to the trillions of dollars in debt as values begin to drop?
BUY THE BOOK NOW:
PRICED OUT BY DESIGN: ISBN 978-1-7346418-2-0 is currently available at Amazon at:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734641827
The book and e-book will be available at bookstores such as Barnes & Noble and local independent shops by May 1.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@pricedoutbydesign
Website https://www.pricedoutbydesign.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamesmnelsonauthor/
ABOUT James M Nelson
James M. Nelson is an economist and former Federal Banking Regulator with over four decades of experience in U.S. banking and commercial real estate. A graduate of Brigham Young University, he previously served as Chief Credit Officer for a community bank. His extensive background and investigative work with ProPublica, the Department of Justice, and over a dozen of the nation's largest antitrust law firms lend credibility to his analysis of AI's role in the housing crisis, making this book a trusted resource for policymakers, industry professionals, and concerned citizens.
Retired Visiting Scholar, Author
Center for Applied Values and Ethics in Advancing Technologies, Crown College, University of California, Santa Cruz
Email: thenewlandlord@mail.com
