vintagemotif,
Just make sure when you get the basement you get:
( In order of importance)
1 - A dry basement, check carefully for mold, mildew, or previous flooding.
2 - Ample head room for the tallest person in your family. I about killed myself in the basement in the first house we lived in here in Springfield. Those floor beams are solid.
2a - Wide tall stairs down to the basement. Having to bend over to avoid a concussion or bend and twist to get down the stairs is a pain in the a ..... 'em butt.
3 - Ample windows that open for ventilation.
4 - Light, you need lots of light. That can be worked on though.
Hope you get pretty legs a good place to set up.
Joe