The banks have done a brilliant job convincing everyone that there are rules: their-rules. Forget every thing you know. Understand that if you are a buyer you are the person with the MONEY, their paycheck comes from you.They are there to satisfy YOUR need not the other way around. You are the client (a paying client not like the one they foreclosed upon)When you get in that mind set you will command respect and you would find out very fast that the banks have bullied every one to submission. If you really understand the news and the economy you must understand that you have tremendous leverage as a buyer to let a bank (any ready to go bankrupt bank) bully you.
If they reject your offer, no big deal, there is always a new house for you to make an offer. The bank has more time to have to carry a deteriorating asset. It is just matter of attitude and the old saying “money talks bs walks”