Welcome from Kansas! I think that you should be able to find a great machine for around that price. I would check out the older Kenmores. They are great workhorse machines and all metal. Not like the ones that have plastic gears that they make now.
Here is an example of one.
http://cgi.ebay.com/HEAVY-DUTY-KENMO...t_2152wt_1165.
Good luck in your search.