Otherwise, many view Boston's market as a safe haven for their money, hence the low cap rates as noted by @Jarrod Kohl. 

If you plan on using your VA loan (which I highly recommend for a house-hack) you have a few options: Your best bet would be getting a full time job lined up immediately after your EAS.

Part of the reason this seller wanted to do seller finance was to turn 1M in equity into a nice, safe income stream that was better than CDs and lees risky that stocks.

I don't know the average time on market there, but would bet it's in the 6-12 month range.  

If you expect to use it for another property and pay back the "loan" over a few years, the REFI is probably the better bet.

Basically this is their way of getting all rentals lead safe.

I bet the concrete is not dense with aggregate, and aggregate is like pebble river rock instead of crushed aggerate.  

Our business gets paid to structure good safe loans, but if there's a default, we all share in the risk this way.

If anyone could provide me a link to the FHA guidelines, I would certainly appreciate it.By the way, here's probably the best article I've found on the subject:https://www.mass.gov/info-details/arsenic-in-private-well-water-faqs#:~:text=Unless%20your%20arsenic%20level%20is,not%20evaporate%20into%20the%20air.One notable quote from it:"Unless your arsenic level is over 500 ppb, showering, bathing and other household uses are safe.

Basically this is their way of getting all rentals lead safe.