@Brian Nordman Banks don't like blowing the dust off ancient comps but I have seen them do it. 

@Nita Martin I agree with everything above: you definitely need to dial in your rehab estimate (and then double it for unexpected issues that are bound to crawl out from under the ancient floorboards).

I come from Egypt and am living in Dubai but would like to apply for mortgage with an EU bank.

I was definitely a very good tenant who put up with a lot of nonsense (windows that dont lock, chipping paint, mold, ancient plumbing, rude property manager, etc.).

I am sure it is way more complex than that but I am sure someone on here has more experience with this issue that is far less ancient than my own knowledge.

I'll paraphrase an ancient saying, "he who holds the gold, makes the rules."

DE is basically ancient microorganisms that died and left their sicila (glass) skeletons/shells behind as microscopic shards of glass. 

My experience tells me that people in England and Europe invest overseas lots in places like Egypt, Tunisia, etc, so you could always go on U.K. websites to see where they are flocking to.

I had a unit where I had laid laminate in the kitchen around a cement pad for the ancient stove.

The mobiles are ancient (pre-70's I believe, but the owner installed 1/2 drywall and regular 1" thick subfloor inside.