To follow up on what UR said it is not necessary to use the listing agent. Yes there are some shady REO realtors but the lions share of them go to a handful of top REO agents who go by the book. These agents are making high 6-figures and even 7 figures in this market. They have far too much to risk by slipping their own inferior buyers in. Risking that type of guaranteed income to make a couple extra grand would be stupid and they know that.