Instead of negotiating a price reduction, negotiate the Seller to buy down your interest rate.

I max out my Roth IRA every year and also contribute 10% of my pay (before taxes) to my Simple IRA as I shift into a debt reduction phase later in the year this year I do plan on upping the contribution to 15% of my gross pay once I feel comfortable with my level of debt or have eliminated all my bad debt (incurred getting the real estate stuff going). 

And overruns on construction plus potentially extended time on the market and/or price reductions in a softening market?

Just looking at the 94605 zipcode in Oakland, the good quality flips go pending within 7-10 days, the crappy flips stay in the market for weeks with multiple price reductions.   

When the appraisal comes in short Fannie routinely will amend (based on my personal experience and observed others in my community) to the appraised value (within reason-- less than 10 percent reduction).

Looking back at the closing table I noticed there were a lot of other expenses paid including prepayment of insurance, initial payments into escrow, and principal reduction payments (to cover unused seller concessions). 

Personally I am a accelerate your debt reduction guy - new term I guess.

Just google search economists takes on how market caps lead to reduction in suplly it's all over From the Boston small property owners alliance SPOA:RENT STRIKES: Are we exaggerating?"

The syndicate will typically renovate the apartment to command higher rents, bring in expert property management to further optimize the property including focusing on expense reduction and other income producing opportunities that may have been overlooked.  

Even at significant price reductions, people usually still can't afford cash purchases.