My suggestion would be to talk to various musicians who play the type of music that you want to play. Tell them you're looking for a good, used learner's guitar. I have eight kids, and we've bought dozens of insturments this way. I have $2500.00 guitars, but I like to play my very used $100.00 Yamaha FG-160. With most decent used guitars, you'll be able to re-sale them for what you paid for them, when you step-up in quality. Elderly Insturments usually has a whole bunch of thes used, inexpensive guitars. They're on the net.