Good day forum members, my first post here. I`m a retired city slicker looking to relocate to the country side. Just me and my dogs. Have my eye on a beautiful 7 acres of mostly flat land, small 2 bedroom house on a hill, with a deck facing a pond and overlooking the property. About 3 acres are fenced (overgrown garden and what looks like a overgrown hay field) all has to be mowed eventually. And no I`m not going to be a gentleman's farmer...maybe plant some tomatoes The grassy areas are well taken care of by the real estate people and are mostly flat except the house sits on bluff/hill. The problem is the mowers I have my eye on (jd x590/x730, toro titan 2500 and simplicity prestige, all cost an arm and a leg. All cost more than the $5,000 I have on hand after I buy the homestead. I`m pretty mechanical inclined ,worked in industrial boiler maintenance for 30 years. I could buy used but know very little about mowers and I need something reliable since my property borders on a well manicured, fancy, high price residential property.....and I want to be neighborly and keep the grass cut. So if I buy used what should I look for? what does the hour gauge tell you? are 300 hours a lot? 500 hours?...... I could afford a Ariens Apex but I`m not sure I have trust in Home Depot fixing anything under warranty. There is a John Deere dealer and a Toro dealer in the area so should I bite the bullet and buy new with the $5000 down?