@Gregory Haley - Even if you don't end up buying for your initial PPL you can still look into things. If you just know you are going to own a plane and relatively soon after or even during your PPL then here is a list of things you can start doing now - generally given in order.
0. Get your medical if you already haven't. Any nasties on Q18 and come back here before going any farther. This should only take a few hours.
1. Get talking with the insurance company right now. Give them a broad list of planes that you might consider and ask them the insurance rates. This will help you find out yet another aviation expense. This should only take a few hours. Pilots here can recommend brokers to shop things around too if needed.
2. Research hangars and get on several lists. This can be a huge surprise for new owners. They find a plane first and need to start by tying it down. That starts to bug them and they want a hangar. Then they find out there is a list and its like 5yrs long. The final insult is the cost. You might be thinking $300/month and they are $800/month. So find several airports around you and get on their rental lists. This can be done over just a few days with phone calls or quick visits to the airports or cities that run them.
3. Learn W&B. Do this soon. then start applying it to all the planes that interest you. Make sure you throw cases in with just you (obviously), you and friends, you and family on long trips, full fuel, high density altitudes, etc. This is where you will learn some surprises and be glad you figured it out now vs later. For example you might love low wings and find that the Mooney just can't carry everyone and enough fuel and you get a Dakota instead.
4. Through referrals start researching which A&P you will eventually use. They don't have to be on the same field. You might even be able to do owner assisted. Either way, try to get a good feel for your mechanic. You probably have a few airplanes in mind. Pay them an hour or two of labor to chat with them and run those planes by them. Ask them if they are okay maintaining the planes you pick and what the base annual rates are. Now the most important part in the short term - ask them if they would be willing to do a pre-purchase inspection. This is the single event that will hopefully catch the $$,$$$$ problems or determine its in fantastic shape. You are down south and listed Florida. You are going to want someone who's gonna be on top of corrosion, etc. And just remember, the plane you like could be in Michigan - will that mechanic fly up with you to check it out.
5. If you have lots of $$ then this step may not apply. But think about the price you really want to pay. Then include another $500...$2000 for you and your mechanic to go and see it. Factor in another 6%...10% of the purchase cost for the first annual. Right now simple single engine planes are commanding pretty good prices so do your best to keep to that budget. It might take a while...like months but something will eventually come up.
...at our small field what I am seeing is a hangar will open up. The new renter now has 60days to get a plane in there or they give up the hangar (but keep their spot on the list). The next opening might be another year so there is urgency. So there is a rush to find a plane. Sometimes that rush leads to something ok but maybe not exactly what the owner wanted...all because the hangar itself is so hard to come by. So do all the stuff above as soon as you can. When that hangar opens up you'll already know what you want, costs, etc. Its not uncommon for hangar waiting lists to take years until there is an opening so now is the best time to get on those lists.