Welcome from Washington State. When you start looking for a machine, it's as important to find a good dealer as a good machine. They can help you find the right machine for you, as well as be there to help with problems and fix it when something goes wrong.
A lot of dealers carry more than one brand, and you can compare different brands and machines in one place. Be sure to take some of your own fabric, because the store will only have no fail fabric that looks good, but nobody uses in real life.
Also talk to more than one dealer. And let them know it. I used to sell Viking, and we were supposed to close a sale the first time a customer walked into the store--and we got heck if an interested customer wanted to "think" about it. Sheeesh!
BTW, I ended up selling my Viking and am quilting on a Singer 301. I still have my Bernina 1630. I'd buy another Viking if the right one came along at the right price.