Housebuilder's trading update highlights steadying prices and gradual rise in lending
Bovis Homes has said the housing market has shown 鈥渟igns of stabilisation鈥 in the first six months of 2009.
In a trading update this morning, the housebuilder said that price declines had eased and mortgage approval rates had picked up 鈥渁lbeit from a low base鈥.
It said: 鈥淭he short term outlook for the housing market is a continuation of low levels of activity constrained by ongoing illiquidity in the mortgage market. House prices appear to be demonstrating a degree of stability at present, aided by the current low level of second hand homes being offered for sale across the housing market.鈥
Bovis' completions in the six months to 30 June dropped to 754, from 851 in 2008, while its average selling price fell to 拢160,400, down from 拢196,700 last year.
Net debt at the firm shrunk considerably to 拢14m at 30 June, compared with 拢94m at the same point last year.
The statement added: 鈥2009 will be a year of delivering strong positive cash flow, repositioning the group's balance sheet with lower work in progress and anticipated net cash in hand at the year end. This should provide the group with the opportunity to invest in the residential land market at what it anticipates will be attractive values.鈥
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