[projekktor id=’21472′]

First time home-buyers are finding it really tough to find good new homes at an affordable price right now. Hundreds of them flocked into Binbrook today, from as far away as Scarborough, to try to grab a bargain in a new development, near Caledonia.

But there may be a major hitch, that many of them, know nothing about: a pending aboriginal land claim.

One appeal dealing with this project has already been rejected by the Ontario municipal board, but it appears that ruling hasn’t settled the issue of an ongoing land claim.

There was no lack of interest and the line-up started early. Really early.

“I got here about 6:30. But there’ve been people here super, super (early), like since Wednesday.”

Theo Maripu is one of hundreds of potential buyers, who want in on a subdivision that’s still more than 18 months down the road.

“It seems like a great opportunity. There’s a lot of families here. Probably a lot of first-time buyers as well. Can’t beat the price. It’s gonna be a good area.”

The area is 215 hectares of land off McClung Road just outside of Caledonia. Empire Communities plans to build more than 2000 homes here, but already that plan faces a challenge: an aboriginal land claim by the Haudenosaunee development institute. Something that at least some of these prospective buyers, didn’t know.

“That’s a problem?. I’m not aware of that. I would not go into that kind of a deal if it is disputed land.” said Shahid Rao, who is a prospective buyer.

“No we hadn’t heard any of that. I was under the impression that all issues were resolved.” said Dan Doleman, another prospective buyer.

There was a time not so long ago when developers thought they had the rights to build on land near Caledonia. but a decade later, there’s still no subdivision, at Douglas Creek estates.

We asked for someone from Empire Homes to talk to us but were told that no one was available. We also tried to contact the Haudenosaunee development institute, without success. But the uncertainty of the situation doesn’t seem to be having any effect on buyer interest.

Notifications of the planned development were sent to band councils of both the Mississaugas of the New Credit, and Six Nations in accordance with the Grand River Notification Agreement, signed in the mid-90’s. The town of Haldimand is on record saying that’s all that’s needed.

But the Haudenosaunee development institute, established in the wake of the Douglas Creek Estates dispute may have a different view of what will be required in order for this development to proceed.