What turntable to start out with ? Pioneer PLX-1000 or VPI Nomad

No, neither of these mentioned.  Go to UturnAudio.com and checkout there offerings. Great sound, great value.

I like the portability aspect of the Nomad and the fact the I can bypass the phono pre on the 2016 model.

I listen to jazz and classical mainly.

Pioneer seems like a good resale value table, but I have to get the cartridge for it.  No idea how to set that up.

Summary of Stereophile review of the PLX-1000:

Pioneer PLX-1000: $699 including tonearm $$$
To those who deny the musicality of direct-drive platters and the servos they rode in on, HR said: Bunk. And he added: "Forget analog vs digital or tubes vs solid-state; the most pervasive and poorly considered belief of all is that only belt-drive turntables are worthy of audiophile consideration." From there HR praised the successor to the popular but discontinued Technics SL-1200MK2: the Pioneer PLX-1000 direct-drive turntable with integrated tonearm. "Belts can't touch the PLX-1000's excitement, naturally formed detail, and clearly expressed forward momentum," HR wrote. "This new Pioneer also showcases the complex tonal character and elegant structures of classical music better than any affordable belt-drive I've experienced." As HR heard it, the PLX-1000, whose motor exhibits more than twice the torque of its famous forebear, "is not only a worthy successor to the legendary Technics SL-1200MK2, it is a serious contender for the best audiophile-grade turntable for less than $2000. Unabashedly recommended." Borderline Class B, he dares to suggest. (Vol.38 No.3 WWW)

The PLX-1000 is $300 less than the Nomad. For that difference you can buy a $129 Schiit Mani phono stage, a nicer cartridge (e.g., 2M Blue), and probably find someone to help mount the cartridge. I'm not sure, but I suspect the Pioneer has a headshell jig for aligning the cartridge. I use such as jig with my Technics and I get a better alignment than any of the protractors I've tried.

Full review: http://www.stereophile.com/content/gramophone-dreams-4#GZbc8OGpgs1OGT4d.97

Follow-up review: http://www.stereophile.com/content/gramophone-dreams-3-follow#jqV8s3G1vMsB8Ph5.97

That sounds good JohnnyB53 !  I guess the Pioneer was my first choice, but I got an idea that the VPI Nomad would be a little more flexible in moving around. I could use headphones to listen to records in my room where my small audio studio is. I have some little JBL self powered reference monitors in there, so If I wanted to use those it would be really easy.  
In the living room I just have a Marantz Receiver with the phone input and some bose speakers (less fancy than the JBLs).
I'm not looking for really high end, but I want something nice that I don't have to grow out of in a year.

So......    I am still on the fence.  But if Classical and jazz sound great on the Pioneer I may go with that.

I wish there were a few more reviews on the vpi nomad 2.  I kind of like the simplicity of the Nomad, but the pioneer plx-1000 has many more great reviews and comes highly recommended.

I would want a new one, and buy locally so if anything goes wrong they can help me out.