Housebuilders cash in on boom

BUILDERS of luxury homes and retirement flats have one thing in common - they are making lots of money out of the housing boom. Housebuilder Westbury increased average selling prices 25% to £171,500 last year, helping profits rise 29% to £93m. Dividends rose from 11p to 12.1p. McCarthy & Stone, which builds homes for the elderly, lifted first-half profits 80% to £39m and dividends 18% to 3.9p.