Aside from the financial benefit of putting commission toward the purchase, you can go show yourself as many houses as you like requesting your own appointments.  

But I do sometimes wonder if we are going to end up with some board, appointed unilaterally by the president, who sit for 10 year terms, and answer to no one but themselves, and are the "tsars of housing" in America.

Also, during appointments, I want to have a friend or family member call me so that I can pretend it’s one of my clients who is returning a call about an offer on their listing.

When I tried to set up appointments with this person they canceled on me twice, once with no warning and once within 30 minutes of the appointment.

Obviously not a popular subject here on BP, or in general, but it is one of importance nonetheless, I believe.This stems from my very first listing appointment ever and a FSBO who asked about any other names I had & stated they google searched me. 

Today as I called to confirm the appointment, (he wouldn't respond to my partner) it seems like the property manager has many excuses to why we may not be able to get into all of the units tomorrow.

Go to an appointment and offer motivated seller amount that is rejected but leave home with a listing?

Yes, we are treating this like a business appointment.

You indeed make sense that putting down more cash isn't a good idea when there will be rehabs to be done on the property.Regarding the specific, I couldn't post anything specific due to the the forum rules.I have scheduled an appointment with my realtor to go and check out the place in the meantime. 

Going door to door, cold calling, asking agents if they need help, go on listing appointments/buyer consultations, open houses.. there are much more options but those are a few to look into.If you ever want to chat about it, PM me.