New buyer inquiries have now increased for seven months in a row and are now at its best level since August 1999, according to the Housing Markets Survey May 2009 from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
The figures provide more evidence that activity in the residential property market is continuing to pick up, albeit from historic lows, the report points out.
The survey also contains more definitive signs that the rebound in enquiries is now feeding thorough into increased transactions.
Newly agreed sales, measured on a net balance basis, remained comfortably in positive territory for the third consecutive month and there was a further rise in the average number of sales per surveyor.
However, new instructions to sell property fell further in May. This series has now dropped in every single month over the last two years and, if anything, the picture appears to be becoming more acute.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that the change in the rules governing Home Information Packs that were introduced at the start of April may be contributing to this situation.
As a result, the average number of unsold properties on surveyors' books continues to decline, down 35% compared with a year ago.
But there is confidence in the market. The net balance of surveyors expecting sales to increase rose from 35 to 40, an all-time high since October 1998.
Overall the net price balance improved in most parts of the country. London remains the strongest region with a reading of -14 followed by Scotland, the South East and the South West.
The only region in England and Wales to show a deterioration in the net price balance was the West Midlands. The net price balance also fell slightly in Northern Ireland.
Significantly, the increase in new buyer enquiries in May was most marked in London and the South East. Scotland also saw a large jump in buyer interest.