I'm going to look at a new house that's not finished. The basic structure is up but drywalling and interior is yet to commence. The builder is open to selling AS-IS or after completely finishing or in-between.
What's my best option? Should I have the builder finish the house to my choice of material? Should I buy AS-IS, then get it done myself by a 3rd party? What tools/sites can i use to assess what the interior will cost me? kitchen/flooring/fixtures/etc?
Much of this depends on the contacts you already have. If you know subcontractors that will give you a substantial discount, chances are you will save money over having the contractor complete the property.
You will need to do your research and see what kind of discount you will get for purchasing before construction completion, and compare that with how much it will cost if you get the repairs completed on your own. Don't forget to put a dollar value on your own time that will be spent hiring and overseeing the project.
I suggest getting the cost estimates by actually speaking with local carpenters, drywallers etc... I would suggest if you are not experienced with running a jobsite, try to use your negotioting skills with the current builder to get a great purchase price, and let him complete the work on the property.