How do you take down a Beast?

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I'm looking at high end REO's in S. California and have listened to the talk on the forums about banks willing to really negotiate when houses have sat 150+ days on the market as REO's. What I don't understand is the jumbo loan houses. I've done some digging and I've seen large numbers of these homes forclosed for 500 + days with no end in sight but if you talk to the agents you find little if any interest in discussing a low but serious offer. It's sad to see the promo pictures they use of some of these homes over a year or so back and then see the current reality of dead lawns and bad pools. One home I'd watched was REO 270+ days and Countrywide actually droped the price. 1,355k to 1,040k. I had a friend look at the property and he said a crew had come out and cleaned the windows and raked up the dead branches. The next day the house was back up to 1,275k. That must have been some cleanup.

Is there something I'm missing here? I know a real estate agent is suppose to maximize the value for his customer, (in this case the bank), but on REO's over 200+ days? I'd think they would drive you to the bank to help you make the offer. Don't they get a commission anyway?

I'd just like to find a way to make an offer without stepping on the agents toes.