.- As everyone has said above, you're not going to be able to get a conventional loan on a property that isn't move-in ready or that has mechanical (HVAC, electrical, plumbing) issues.

But when I is said and done I will let you know if it truly pans out that way.I am working myself as well, I will be on the plumbing, electrical and painting crew and jobsite dominamatrix daily whipping the crew to meet the schedule.

I know lenders are picky about financing properties with foundation issues, roof issues, electrical issues, and plumbing issues.

From a plumbing perspective, I think it would all depend on how easy-to-access the pipes are from the boiler.

My father and I built our house ourselves when I was 13 with the exception of the technical trades (plumbing, electrical, etc), and we're rather thinking about doing it again.

Hows the plumbing and electrical?

You may have to pay extra to get the utilities turned on or use an inspector who can bring a generator to check the system....electrical & plumbing issues can get very expensive...especially when they pop later as unknowns...and they will.Do you know the history of the place...is it one you've had your eye on?

Typically if you did not like the stone you would take wire mesh and secure it as square as possible to the stone via tap cons, and you would probably have to do a few scratch coats to get things square and plum.. that is if if you have an ocd problem with things not being square and plumb like me -.- , my honest opinion would be to change the carpet not the stone, fwiw you could probably do a nice hardwood floor for a similar cost of changing the fireplace.

If I pro-rate the electrical and plumbing work to just that needed to finish the basement and not include the new HVAC, we are left with creation of three rooms (each with an egress window), a 4-piece bath, a laundry area and a kitchette (both with new appliances) for about 14K (about $22/ft^2) This includes applying 2.5" of closed cell spray foam insulation to all the exterior walls and levelling of the existing concrete pad, before installing an insulated sub-floor.

Got to build my first complete addition from the ground up, i did everything from digging the foundation,electrical, roofing, plumbing to the finishing touches on the bathrooms and laundry room.