Carrie,
Good luck in this very ambitious endeavor!
All the string instruments are very difficult to master. You'll need an impeccable sense of pitch, since there are no fret markers for you to use, and the bowing technique could take years (literally) to achieve a sound that you're happy with.

The Suzuki viloin method teaches open string bowing for a FULL year before the students even start to finger notes on the fingerboard. It's a very exact science.

With THAT said ...... you will benefit from having the best possible instrument that you can afford. String instruments are 100% vibration, and if the wood has a lousy tone, nothing you learn can fix that.

Get a good one, if you can, and in case you want to sell it later, it'll be a more marketable instrument !

Then, there's the space issue .....
wait ......

"There's ALWAYS room for CELLO ! "


(hee hee - couldn't resist !)