A good MLO is going to show themselves to you right away by not leaving you hanging, making sure you don't get the run around, and promptly responding to your communications even if they can't help. 

Well over a month has gone by with no communication on his end after repeated attempts from me to contact him.

And this is why tenant communication is so important.  

I am very concerned about data protection and use separate google account for all the communications.

(One big reason why I am interested, seems to have kept it up well)My agent and I have had intermittent communication with his agent and seems to be showing his own frustration with the buyer because he is so slow to make any decision.

 Hey Mindy,  We communicate similarly with our guest.  

We have been communicating on and off for the past 6 months and she has provided incredibly quick responses with great customer service.

Would it be better to not bid on the auction and communicate w/ the owner directly in the hopes of arranging some kind of direct sale? 

sounds like you have an agent problem, communication should be WAY tighter.

Here are the caveats...I have been communicating with the owner.