My newest home was built in 1888 - the inspection report was essentially blank, the inspector stated "I don't have much to say about this home".

Regarding your contract -- you have an inspection period, I presume. 

Check it out for yourself, and if possible get an inspection done to see if there are any underlying issues with the property and do a title search if there are any liens on the property that could be influencing this drastic action. 

Day 2 in my home office - showings, inspections, open houses, it's all coming to a standstill.

Added a new build and created two from one building, out of the three preexisting single family homes: Completely updated and performed all maintenance from home inspections and discoveries as we constructed one new build, separated two existing, and completely remodeled another existing.

Sure, the Federally backed products come with higher inspection criteria so you can't buy the crappiest property out there, but its a way to get started.I don't know your market at all, but perhaps you should get a single family or multi-family as a long term rental. 

After inspection we found need some work that will be challenging to get it now and the seller was not ready to negotiate then.

Have you contacted any septic inspection companies in your area?

If not, I'll put the property under contract and get the bid and inspection done ASAP as these are 2 of the 3 critical numbers I need to know if the deal will work (the 3rd being the appraisal if I'm using lending). 

I haven't been in Erie for about a month (I was there to see my parents in mid-February, be present for a rental inspection and rent a vacant unit out (I now have all good tenants!