Bypass Listing Agent?
I am interested in purchasing a retail property in my town but the listing agent has been unable to provide any financial information. The owner is elderly and getting rid of a large portfolio of properties which were C class multifamily plus this one B- retail center.  The owner had his own management company which is in the process of closing.  Over the last 6 months, I've inquired about the retail property several times, asked for income/expense statement and shared that my partner and I have the resources to pay cash for the property (but intend to secure a commercial loan).  The listing agent promises to send financials but never gets back to me.  This is a residential agent who has never sold a retail property as far as I can tell.  I believe she is blowing me off and not aware that commercial valuation is based on income a property generates.  

Should I bypass the listing agent and contact the seller directly?  Or throw out a lowball offer contingent on review of the financials?    
[{"id": "ddaakp4", "text": "Typically financial documents are provided after a formal LOI is submitted. \n\nThat said, if it's a residential broker, they might not have a clue what you're asking for. \n\nYou could always try to find the owners info through the county clerk's office... Or just call their management office directly.", "replies": [{"id": "ddan3ff", "text": "We typically would not provide a rent roll or other financials on a building until after the PSA had been executed. If we do, we typically require an NDA. \n\nIf it's not provided after the LOI, write in a longer than normal feasibility/ inspection period into the contract, say 30-45 days. We typically require all Due Diligence materials be delivered to Buyer within 5 days of opening escrow.  That will give you plenty of time to determine if the purchase will work for you.  Make sure to include a fully refundable deposit until the end of the inspection period. \n", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "ddacsaz", "text": "Contact the agent's broker directly, preferably in writing, and inform them what you have said here.\n\nThe broker is ultimately on the hook for poor representation on behalf of the seller, who may or may not know of the agent's lack of response and inadequate representation -- as is required in the listing agreement.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "ddarc28", "text": "Contact the listing broker and ask to be sent a confidentially agreement and they will more than likely release all financials if you fill one out and send back.. \n\nOr the problem could be, since you stated the owner is starting to get old and senile and closing up shop, that the listing broker may not have a copy of the P&amp;L &amp; income and expenses during this transition as the PM team usually would have these files. And if they are gone and the owner relied on them, then that is a very good possibility..\n\nBut I'd definitely reach out. So many moving parts, it's hard to always pin down where the miscommunication lies. I'd recommended not even submitting an LOI until you've seen the financials, that just sounds kinda ludicrous to me. ", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "dehlb36", "text": "If its a residential agent just go direct to the owner.  They have no clue what they're doing 99.987654% of the time and have absolutely no business selling commercial.  It blows my mind when I see a tenant, buyer or landlord/seller working with a residential agent because they are unable to provide any real guidance or market knowledge to their client.  States should really require separate licenses.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]