I would look into a Sunshine 16 by Pennywinkle Valley Ranch. I saw them at the Denver show and liked them. The 16 inch machine on a frame is only 2795.00. It doesn't have a stitch regulator but it really isn't that hard to learn to keep your stitches an even length without a stitch regulator. When I have space again it's the machine I'm going to take a lot closer look at.
I had an APQS 20 inch machine and it was a little bit on the big side for someone on the shorter side.