If you do not like showings and you are DIY landlording, then I'd suggest an open house ... that's only one showing and if lots of people are there at once it can drum up competition.

While the competition is less on these properties, it still exists, and some people who actually intend to occupy the property are simply willing to pay more because they don't require the spread.Most of these programs you have to occupy for a year, but so what.

Besides that, what is your competitive advantage?

But if you're trying to sell in a buyers market or you're simply trying to be proactive and looking for a competitive advantage over the other listings in the immediate area, I'd be willing to bet that your money would be better spent in upgrading what's already there.

Competition is high because of low inventory nationwide.

Working with a RE Agent to find interested sellers of small muliti-fams in a competitive and "hot" market in the New York Hudson Valley; the agent is both working as the RE agent and as a 50/50 partner/investor on the deal.

Competition didn't follow 70% formula, offered $12k more than I did and they still made profits.

Smaller community banks in the area may be able to offer more competitive terms and conditions if you do your due-diligence.The bank will also want to see adequate cash reserves for a loan after your down payment and a hard money lender will want to see experience in addition to cash reserves and I've never heard of a hard money lender floating 100% of the project budget.  

Right now, the new buildings coming online have ridiculous prices, more competition, in the market theory, is the right response. 

Those can vary in the contract and for a competitive offer, I would suggest putting fewer contingencies but you have to know your risk.