Welcome to the QB...I lived in Vacaville for 37 years and still visit a couple times a year to visit family and friends.
When I started quilting back in 2010, my first “real” machine was a Janome 6600 which was about $1000. It has been a workhorse for me and it is a sturdy machine. Unfortunately, there are so many newer models to choose from but I would test drive any machine before you make a decision.