What kind of wood stove do I need?

I am thinking about getting a used stove from craigslist so I need to find out what I need so I don't make a mistake. I have a 2 story house with a basement. I live in KC and my plumbing has started freezing. I am thinking about putting it in the basement. So what do I need to look for? Do some function different then others? Are there features that I should seek to get? Is there a price range? Should I get a more modern one for some reason? advice???