Housebuilders are still looking forward to a sales boost this year despite a collapse in visitors and reservations according to the latest HBF survey. A balance of +46% of respondents expects higher sales in 2003 than 2002, but both sales (-30%) and reservations (-34%) were significantly down on this time last year.<p></p><p> But NHBC figures for January found applications for new homes in the private sector were up 4% on last year. &amp;“Early evidence for 2003 suggests that growing fears of a housing market correction has had little impact,&amp;” said NHBC chief executive Imtiaz Farookhi.</p><p><b>HBF Monthly Survey Summary ResultsActivity in the month compared with the same month a year ago (balance*)&amp; OctNovDecJanSite visitors -1-6-15-30Net reservations +2-5-3-34Net house price change during the month (balance*)&amp; +50+47+35+29Companies expecting higher sales in 2000 (balance*)&amp; +50+47+41+46The HBF survey is based on responses from over 400 companies across all regions of Great Britain weighted to take account of their size </b><br> * Balance: % reporting an increase less % reporting a decrease (GB)</p><p></p><p>&amp; </p><p></p>