Such is the lesson of the Sunday Times piece on tony Alpine, New Jersey, home to generations of wealthy, Waspy, bankery sorts and, lately, the hip-hop elite. But there are, sadly, some exceptions:

Ms. Stone, who helped secure mortgages for leading rappers like Cam'ron and Biggie Smalls, said it had not always been an easy move to make: "A few years ago, I had a client — she was a major artist too — that had excellent credit, over $2 million in the bank, was buying a house for a million-five, and because she was a new, young artist, the underwriter didn't want to give her a mortgage."

Also, because she was black.

Alpine, N.J., Home of Hip-Hop Royalty [NYT]