I'm not a fan of Seagull/Norman/S&P/Godin etc...some are OK but if you're looking at spending close to $1000, don't go there--they won't have the resale value a couple of years later if you fall out of love. (EG my bandmate had a decent Norman, upgraded to a Martin and they offered her $200 tradein on the Norman...which had cost her $900 new). So don't be so quick to believe everyone that says "never mind the name". A Martin, Taylor, Gibson etc will hold its value very well, even if its an unspectacular instrument.

Guild dreadnoughts from the 80's and 90's can be very good buys.

Gretsch is making some very cool flattops for only about $600 Cdn...orange top, half-moon soundhole, a serious candidate for an inexpensive working guitar with panache.

Eastman, which is shaking up the mandolin world with its pricing on very high-quality instruments made in China (I just bought one), is also making guitars in that very price range--I'd check it out, considering they claim to have ADIRONDACK spruce tops and Indian rosewood bodies.   

And Blueridges are definitely popular among working musicians.

Have fun looking.

W-O