Housebuilders continue to report significant profit and sales increases on the back of a recovering market. Taylor Wimpey announced a pre-tax profit rise of 42.1% to £109 million during the first half of 2013 against 2012 while Persimmon’s underlying pre-tax profits in the period were 40% up to £135.2 million, with private sale reservations since the Help to Buy launch up 30% on 2012. <br><br>Bovis Homes saw its housing operating profit rise 50% to £20.4 million in H1 2013 against H1 2012, fuelled by increased volumes and higher average sales prices. Reporting on the year ending July 31 2013, Bellway said that its reservations had climbed 27%, with the value of its order book swelling 54% to £679.5 million against 2012.