Projector distance around 25-27ft, is this ok?

Many cannot throw that far effectively...

See http://www.projectorcentral.com/proj...ulator-pro.cfm

You'll need a good zoom. How large is the screen? If small 120" or less, you can likely forget it.

My throw is 26.0. Am using a SIM2 Lumis and am all the way at the end of that lens (wide open). SIM2 will do it but not in your budget.

You'll need to do lens calculations based on your possible projectors and know your exact screen size to find out if you can do a long throw.

Is there no way to mount the PJ closer? There are lots of mounting products out there. That's a long throw for a $3K projector.

If you were to have a 24 ft. projector-to-screen throw distance (this is from the front of the projector's lens to the screen) then projectors such as an Epson 5010 would require a screen size of at least 120 inches diagonal (in 16 x 9 format). If you need to mount it with a 10% longer throw distance then your minimum screen size would be 10% bigger, etc. Be aware you would get the maximum image brightness (i.e., max. lumens out of the projector) when it is positioned for minimum throw distance and using a max. throw distance can reduce the projector's light output by as much as 50%, depending on the specific projector model. In the case of the Epson 5010 (for example), the light output when used at maximum throw distance (i.e., minimum zoom) is only about 2/3 as much as it is when used at minimum throw distance (i.e., maximum zoom). The Epson 5010 should have enough lumens output (in a fairly accurate color mode) to give good results for viewing standard 2D movies/video and an acceptably bright image for 3D. However, using a screen with some gain (1.3 or higher) would certainly benefit 3D viewing and if you could mount the projector at only 50" to 60" above floor level then a Da-lite High Power screen, with a gain of 2.4, could work well.