House already under contract-strategy

[Christian Carson]

All,

I've been through the process of buying rental properties in the past but now I'm looking for a duplex to owner-occupy. I found one in the middle of my top neighborhood, but it went under contract the day I went to look at it. I submitted an offer for $10k under ask anyway to the seller's agent.

I got a message from the agent today, almost a month later, telling me that "we are having an appraisal issue that is minor but the buyer is being difficult." He requested that I submit a backup offer to demonstrate that I am serious.

I've got a fully underwritten approval from Quicken Loans as of this week (it's a new product). I've been told that this is as good as a cash offer as long as the appraisal comes through.

I'd love to go somewhere else but now that this house is off-market, inventory in this neighborhood is exactly -zero-. I'd like to get ahold of this one if possible.

I imagine this seller wants to use my offer as leverage to get his buyer to close without issues. Is there anything I can do strategically here to get the seller to dump that guy and go with me?