Check out the Sears Kenmore machines. They are made by Janome, and many quilters like Janome, but the Kenmore branding is sold for less.
Also consider going to a dealership and buying a used machine that someone has traded in on a newer model. You can often get considerably more bang-for-your-buck this way.
Whatever machine you consider, bring in our own fabrics, a test quilt sandwich, etc. and spend at least an hour sewing on the machine to make sure you like it before you buy. Make sure the tension does not need to be adjusted when you switch from thin to thick fabrics, and that it does everything you need it to do.