Rent Group
Rent Group is a United States-based digital media and rental-marketplace company operating online apartment-listing platforms.
Last updated October 29, 2026
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Overview
Rent Group, formerly known as RentPath, is a United States-based digital media and online rental-listing company. Its principal business is the operation of consumer-facing websites that connect prospective renters with apartment owners, property managers, and other housing advertisers. The company owns and operates Rent.com, ApartmentGuide.com, Lovely, and Rentals.com, giving it a portfolio spanning apartment discovery, rental search, and property-marketing services. The business began in 1989 as K-III Communications Corporation, a media-acquisition platform established by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Bill Reilly, then president of Macmillan. During the 1990s and 2000s, the company assembled a very large portfolio of publishing assets. It acquired magazines, trade publications, reference businesses, educational properties, special-interest book clubs, and professional information services. Its holdings at various points included titles such as Chicago, New York, Seventeen, Automobile, Truckin' Magazine, Soap Opera Digest, Soap Opera Weekly, Weekly Reader, and The World Almanac. The company became publicly traded in 1995, with KKR retaining majority control, and changed its name to Primedia in 1997. Primedia subsequently shifted away from its broad magazine portfolio. It sold or divested many of its education, professional, enthusiast, lifestyle, and consumer-publishing assets, including About.com, Seventeen, New York, and a large group of automotive and enthusiast titles. A major 2007 transaction involving more than 70 magazines and numerous websites substantially reduced the company's exposure to traditional magazine publishing. The remaining business increasingly centered on free consumer guides and housing-related information through its Consumer Source operations. TPG Capital acquired Primedia in 2011 for a reported $525 million, taking the company private and ending its New York Stock Exchange listing. In 2012, the company acquired Rent.com from eBay. It adopted the name RentPath in 2013 and expanded its rental-focused digital portfolio through the 2014 acquisition of Lovely. Providence Equity Partners acquired a 50 percent interest in RentPath in 2014. The company underwent leadership changes in the middle of the decade. Chip Perry, formerly associated with Autotrader.com, became president and chief executive officer in 2015, but left later that year to become chief executive of TrueCar. Marc P. Lefar was appointed president and CEO in April 2016. RentPath filed for bankruptcy protection in February 2020 while preparing for a proposed acquisition by CoStar. CoStar agreed to acquire the company for approximately $588 million, but that transaction was terminated in December 2020. Redfin acquired RentPath in April 2021 for approximately $608 million. In June 2022, the business changed its name to Rent Group and adopted the stylized brand name Rent. The company therefore represents a long transformation from a diversified, acquisition-driven print-media group into a specialized digital marketplace and advertising platform for rental housing.
History
Rent Group traces its origins to K-III Communications Corporation, founded in 1989 by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Bill Reilly as a vehicle for acquiring media properties. Its early purchases included Macmillan's book clubs, Gryphon Editions, Intertec Publishing, and Webb Publishing. The company continued to build through acquisitions, adding Ward's, business publications, special-interest book clubs, Weekly Reader, Funk & Wagnalls, and a substantial group of magazines purchased from News Corporation in 1991. Those magazines included Daily Racing Form, Soap Opera Digest, Soap Opera Weekly, New York, Seventeen, Premiere, Automobile, European Travel & Life, and New Woman. Further acquisitions during the early and middle 1990s expanded K-III into medical publishing, educational content, consumer magazines, professional information, automotive publishing, and housing guides. The company acquired Krames, Films for the Humanities & Sciences, The World Almanac, Stagebill, Gibbs College, Haas Publishing, and PJS Publications. Haas Publishing, later associated with Consumer Source, was particularly important because it published Apartment Guide, a business that helped establish the company's later connection with rental advertising and apartment search. K-III became a public company in 1995 through an initial public offering. KKR retained effective control after the offering. The company continued acquiring publications, including Chicago, additional automotive titles, professional publications, and consumer magazines. In November 1997, it changed its name to Primedia to signal a more unified media identity. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Primedia bought and sold assets across a wide range of categories. It acquired Cowles Media's enthusiast and business-media divisions and About.com, while disposing of education, reference, lifestyle, and individual magazine properties. The company's strategic direction changed substantially during the 2000s. Primedia sold About.com to The New York Times Company in 2005 and divested many professional, educational, outdoor, and specialist publishing businesses. In 2007, it sold its Enthusiast Media division to Source Interlink in a transaction involving more than 70 magazines and many websites, including major automotive and entertainment titles. Other transactions transferred outdoor, history, craft, and educational properties to new owners. These disposals left the company increasingly focused on Consumer Source, whose free print and online guides included apartment and rental information. TPG Capital acquired Primedia in 2011 for approximately $525 million. The transaction took the company private and removed it from the New York Stock Exchange. In 2012, Primedia acquired Rent.com from eBay, strengthening its digital rental-search business. The company renamed itself RentPath in 2013 and acquired Lovely for approximately $13 million in 2014. Providence Equity Partners acquired a 50 percent stake in RentPath during 2014. RentPath experienced executive turnover in 2015 and 2016. Chip Perry became president and CEO in July 2015, succeeding Charles Stubbs, but stepped down in November of that year to lead TrueCar. Marc P. Lefar became president and CEO in April 2016. The company filed for bankruptcy protection in February 2020 in connection with a proposed sale to CoStar. CoStar's agreement valued the transaction at approximately $588 million, but the deal was terminated in December 2020. Redfin acquired RentPath in April 2021 for approximately $608 million. In June 2022, the company changed its name to Rent Group and began using the stylized Rent. brand. Its current identity reflects the consolidation of a historically diversified publishing company around digital rental listings, property advertising, and housing-search services.
- 2022
Rent Group identity introduced
[1]RentPath changes its name to Rent Group and adopts the stylized Rent. brand.
- 2021
Acquired by Redfin
[1]Redfin acquires RentPath for approximately $608 million.
- 2020
Bankruptcy filing and failed CoStar transaction
[1]RentPath files for bankruptcy protection and later terminates its proposed acquisition by CoStar.
- 2014
Lovely acquisition and Providence investment
[1]RentPath acquires Lovely and Providence Equity Partners purchases a 50 percent interest in the company.
- 2013
Renamed RentPath
[1]Primedia changes its corporate name to RentPath.
- 2012
Rent.com acquisition
[1]The company acquires Rent.com from eBay and deepens its focus on rental search.
- 2011
Acquired by TPG Capital
[1]TPG Capital acquires Primedia and takes the company private.
- 2007
Enthusiast Media divestiture
[1]Primedia sells a major group of enthusiast magazines and websites, accelerating its withdrawal from broad magazine publishing.
- 2000
About.com acquisition
[1]Primedia acquires About.com as part of its expansion into online content.
- 1997
K-III becomes Primedia
[1]The company adopts the Primedia name as it develops a broader media strategy.
Products and positioning
A digital rental-marketplace and media platform that helps renters discover housing while giving property owners and managers online listing, advertising, and lead-generation channels.
Online rental marketplace
Rent.com
Rent.com is a consumer-facing rental-search platform that presents apartment and rental-home listings. It also supports property advertisers by providing a digital channel for marketing availability and generating renter inquiries.
Apartment listing platform
ApartmentGuide.com
ApartmentGuide.com provides online apartment-search and property-listing services. Its audience includes renters comparing communities and property managers seeking exposure for available units.
Rental marketplace
Lovely
Lovely is a rental-listing service acquired by RentPath in 2014. It expanded the company's digital apartment-search portfolio and contributed technology and listings to its rental-marketplace strategy.
Online rental marketplace
Rentals.com
Rentals.com is an online destination for rental listings and housing discovery. It forms part of Rent Group's network of consumer rental brands and property-marketing channels.
Rental guide and advertising service
Apartment Guide
Apartment Guide originated as a Consumer Source publication and rental-information business. Its print-and-digital guide model helped establish the company's long-term position in apartment advertising before the business became more digitally focused.
Controversies
2020
FTC sues to block CoStar Group's acquisition of RentPath
In a controversy involving Rent Group, the FTC filed suit to block CoStar Group's proposed acquisition of RentPath. According to the FTC, the merger would eliminate a strong competitive alternative and harm customers. The event was reported on December 29, 2020.
Brand decisions
2022
Adopt the Rent Group nameStrategyBackground
The company had completed its shift from a diversified publishing group to a rental-focused digital media and marketplace business.
Action taken
The company changed its name from RentPath to Rent Group and introduced the stylized Rent. identity.
Aftermath
The rebrand consolidated the company's identity around rental search, property listings, and housing advertising.
2021
Redfin acquisitionM&ABackground
Following the termination of the CoStar transaction, RentPath continued through bankruptcy-related restructuring and sought a new owner.
Action taken
Redfin acquired RentPath for approximately $608 million.
Aftermath
RentPath became part of Redfin's real-estate technology ecosystem, with its rental brands continuing as a distinct marketplace portfolio.
Acquisition price. $608 million (2021)
2020
Proposed CoStar acquisitionM&ABackground
RentPath entered bankruptcy proceedings while arranging a potential sale to CoStar.
Action taken
CoStar agreed to acquire RentPath for approximately $588 million, but the transaction was terminated in December 2020.
Aftermath
The failed transaction left the company available for a subsequent acquisition by Redfin.
Proposed acquisition value. $588 million (2020)
2014
Acquire LovelyM&ABackground
RentPath sought to expand its digital rental-search capabilities and consumer audience.
Action taken
RentPath acquired Lovely for approximately $13 million.
Aftermath
Lovely became part of RentPath's broader portfolio of online rental marketplaces.
Acquisition price. $13 million (2014)
2013
Rename the company RentPathStrategyBackground
The business was increasingly centered on rental listings and digital housing information rather than general-interest publishing.
Action taken
Primedia changed its corporate name to RentPath.
Aftermath
The new name aligned the corporate identity with rental-market services and the Rent.com portfolio.
2012
Acquire Rent.com from eBayM&ABackground
After moving away from diversified magazine publishing, the company needed a stronger digital rental-search position.
Action taken
Primedia acquired Rent.com from eBay.
Aftermath
The acquisition became a central step in the transition from Primedia's legacy media portfolio toward the RentPath rental-marketplace business.
Recent events
- 2022
RentPath changes its name to Rent Group[1]
Leadership change · Other
The company adopted the Rent Group name and the stylized Rent. identity in June 2022.
- 2021
Redfin acquires RentPath[1]
M&A
Redfin acquired RentPath for approximately $608 million, bringing the rental-listing business into its real-estate technology portfolio.
- 2020
RentPath files for bankruptcy protection[1]
Bankruptcy · M&A
RentPath entered bankruptcy proceedings as part of a proposed acquisition by CoStar.
- 2020
CoStar acquisition of RentPath is terminated[1]
M&A
The proposed CoStar transaction, previously agreed at approximately $588 million, was ended in December 2020.
Sources5 sources
- 1Rent Groupen.wikipedia.org
- 2FTC sues to block CoStar Group's acquisition of RentPathprnewswire.com
- 3RentPath Announces Advertising Opportunities and Ad Sales Partnership with Direct Action Mediaprweb.com
- 4RentPath Announces Settlement of Break-Up Fee Litigationprnewswire.com
- 5TTG Client RentPath Wins GDUSA Award for 2021 NAA Apartmentalize Exhibitprweb.com
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