Agreed. You can finish that yourself for around $4-5k in materials and about 3 months of work. Carpeting will be your biggest expense. If you don’t know how to do electrical work, the cost will go up. I wouldn’t touch the washer and dryer, just build a closet around it. Tiled ceilings are better, imo, as you still have access to wiring and future expansion.

Permits are good and bad. In my area, if you get a permit, your property taxes will go up as they raise your assessment. If you aren’t sure what you are doing entirely or you have a contractor doing the work, you should pull the permits as they come with inspections at each stage, framing, electrical, etc.

Since you have plumbing and a drain in your basement already, the biggest investment you can make is to put a half bathroom in. It will cost you another $5k, but it it’s the best thing you can do. If you don’t do it immediately, keep it in mind when laying out your space.