<b></b>The latest survey of housebuilders showed site visitors and reservations were well up on a year ago, with prices rising strongly and incentives being cut. Housebuilders&amp;’ optimism for sales this year has also risen, reaching a new high for the year (+57%).<br>Figures from the National House-Building Council for February, meanwhile, show a startling 30% year on year increase in applications to start new homes in the private sector. <p></p><p>There were 13,722 applications this February compared with 10,551 in the same month last year. However the NHBC attributes much of this rise to the fact that last year&amp;’s figure was particularly low due to poor weather.<i>. </i></p><p><b><br> <b>HBF Monthly Survey Summary Results</b></b><br><b><br> <b>Activity in the month compared with the same month a year ago (balance*)</b></b></p><p> &amp; <b>Nov</b> <b>Dec</b> <b>Jan</b> <b>Feb</b></p><p><br> Site visitors -9 +8 +28 +45</p><p><br> Net reservations 0 +17 +35 +51</p><p><b><br> <b>Net house price change during the month (balance*)</b></b></p><p> &amp; +23 +23 +58 +64</p><p><b><br> <b>Companies expecting higher sales in 2000 (balance*)</b></b></p><p> &amp; +41 +48 +54 +57</p><p><br> <i>The HBF survey is based on responses from over 400 companies across all regions of Great Britain weighted to take account of their size *Balance: % reporting an increase less % reporting a decrease …