So I figured I would check to see if anyone read my post and I am blown away by the responses. Thank you!! This is enormously helpful, and I have a good list of things to look into further, forum topics to explore, and places to call to refine my numbers. Just a few more if you guys don't mind:

I imagine it is significantly more convenient to make a purchase locally?

I see ads all the time in the aviation magazines so I assume getting financing is fairly straightforward? Good credit/would put a bunch down, etc.

I'm on Barnstormers, etc. all the time as I bet we all are, but is $20-$30k on the purchase reasonable?

Thanks again!