Ella - general advice, when he is ready to replace it, is - Don't buy an expensive NEW banjo - try to find a GOOD second-hand one.
Various reasons including :-
You can often pick up a better instrument for the same price (or cheaper).
Any problems with the instrument are either obvious or already sorted out.
There are some beautiful old instruments if you can find them.
BUT - if you are not certain what you are looking at try to find somebody you trust who knows about the instrument you want to look at. Get them to try it out to check it is okay. Try it yourself for "feel".
Quack!
GtD.