Reports this week that mortgage applications fell 25% last week, coupled with the news that the number of days it takes to sell a house is ticking up, leads many to believe that buyers are waiting it out, in hopes that rates will drop again and/or the government will provide additional help.  One provision of the current bill, a $15,000 tax credit for buying a home in 2009, should get some potential buyers off the fence in the months to come.  For now, the idea that the Fed may push rates down and the sense that prices still haven't hit bottom are giving those buyers reasons to be patient.  Why buy a house now for $200,000 that might be priced at $150,000 a few months from now?  As for refi's, the tax credit and lower rates do nothing for those who find themselves upside down on their mortgages.  Analysts predict that at least a third of the homeowners trying to refinance will be unable to, due to tighter lending standards, job losses and home values that have fallen below the amount of their existing mortgages.  Our local market seems to bear this out, as we are starting to see prices fall more broadly across the area than in the past few months, with foreclosures starting to figure in to the lowering values more than ever.  If you're a local mortgage broker or lender, please add your thoughts as to the current situation and what you see happening in the coming weeks.