Some 60% reported that they have seen an increase in property sales compared with this time last year, the survey from the Home Builders Federation has found.
The organisation, regarded as the voice of the house building industry, says in the report that the industry has been through the economic equivalent of a tsunami, with an estimated 250,000 construction jobs lost in a year.
Steve Turner, spokesman for the HBF, said the survey results were a welcome boost. 'It's been a very difficult year but what we are starting to see is a consistent set of modest but positive results now in terms of visitor levels and in terms of reservations. I think for the first time in a number of months the industry is starting to feel more positive,' he said.
It also highlights the fact that the biggest hurdle to a recovery in the residential real estate sector is now the availability of mortgages. It is not the only critic of banks who we bailed out by the government. Many believe that they have failed to meet legally binding obligations to lend more money to property buyers.
Many also believe that the much talked about government scheme to help first time buyers get on the property ladder has failed to live up to expectations. So far only 215 people have taken advantage of the Home Buy Direct scheme which was announced last September aimed at helping 18,000 people.
The scheme aims to help people buy new build properties by providing them with up to 30% of the purchase price through a loan secured against the property, with 15% coming from the Government and 15% from the developer.
The loan, for first time buyers with incomes lf less than £60,000 as year, is interest free for the first five years, although borrowers must pay an annual fee of 1.75%, after which interest is charged at inflation plus 1%.
The HBF said its latest information indicates that around 2,000 buyers are currently going through the scheme so there is obviously interest.
