‘All kinds of discrimination’: inside the secretive world of New York housing co-ops

The exclusive buildings, which make up most of Manhattan's apartment stock, operate with impunity. Getting access can be a nightmare

At the end of last summer, Claire and her partner, Alan, found the perfect New York apartment.

At the time we naively thought the mortgage process would be the most difficult part," recalled Claire. Little did we know." The first-time buyers were suddenly confronting the reality of trying to purchase an apartment in a market-rate co-op building.