As PaperPrincess said needle down is a fabulous feature. You will also want to get a 1/4 inch foot and walking foot to fit your machine. You can get any range in price. From $50 to $3000. I am just as happy with my lower cost machine as some are with the high end. It all depends on how many bells and whistles you wanted. If you are a beginner I would start with something under $500. You can always go up later