Thanks for the replies! @gsxrpilot, I hope to hear from you soon!
I selected a Mooney for a couple of reasons. I was looking at 182s or Dakotas, but those are going for $20-30k more than what the bank will finance, at least for ones that you want to buy. With how difficult it was looking for a good one, I decided to get a plane that I might keep for a LONG time rather than a fixed-gear transition plane. I noticed that Bonanzas have bad CG problems, and V-tails are nicknamed "doctor killers" (and their insurance is ridiculously expensive). So I looked for something near me, and this Mooney was for sale in town! I went to look at it and it was perfect for my mission: flying fast to go see friends across the US. It has almost all of the avionics that I need, so good to go! And the old man may or may not fit comfortably into a Mooney any more...
I already have insurance, and it requires PPL and 10 hours dual instruction. Does anyone have a checklist made up for Mooney M20Js? My POH is ancient (1983 to be exact), so I'd love tips from experience Mooney flyers about how to operate the aircraft. Take-off at high altitude, cruise, overheating, landing, etc. Thanks!