The number of sales secured for this financial year is 4% higher and the company expects the number of properties it sells in the six months to January 31 to be the same as last year. With first-time buyers struggling to get onto the property ladder, the company has moved into selling more expensive homes – its average sale price has increased 8% to £167,600. The company said pre-tax profits could lift to £22.8m in the first half, although it stressed the full-year result depends on the key spring trading period. Shares leapt 7% after the announcement. The positive news from Bellway comes a week after fellow housebuilder Berkeley Group also posted an 18% rise in half-year pre-tax profits and a 20% surge in sales reservations. Bellway will have 200 sites for sale in the new year, up from 185 currently. The group's land buyers bought 1,260 plots in the past four months and are actively looking for more.