I would highly recommend networking with like minded individuals who have common life goals. 

With 20/20 hindsight regulators and plaintiff's attorneys paint targets on these individuals through rescission rights or other legal techniques-They train sponsors to source money through other active investors which inevitably leads to squabbling and a loss of control.  

Is it better to negotiate this for my individual unit or ask my HOA to negotiate on behalf of the entire building?

It is very hard to get these deals though as the elite contractors have built their name as the people to call when individuals want to sell their house in areas where massive rehab/upgrades can be done or that house can be razed to build a new one.

Also these are general contractors, I didn't individual contractors. 

As such, it really depends on the individual investor and the specific market they are operating in as to what strategy will perform the best.

These require a more individualized analysis, and I would recommend you reach out to a CPA.

I assumed finding this individual should be relatively easy, but my realtor said the seller's title company isn't going assist. 

Could split up the larger and smaller stuff but the larger properties still seem beneath Fannie Mae level individually.

These days, I am not aware of any bank that will sell individual properties outside of the REO/MLS process.