Looks like you got cash for a project. How good are you at repairs? I usually like to buy fixer uppers and make a few bucks to feed the habit. I am mainly though into EM's

I bought my first pin for $350 getting a 100% working 90's pin for $1000 is a stretch

If you are looking to purchase, to keep, take your time. Buy something that you know, and enjoy, so you'll be confident that you will enjoy it in time to come. It might take you a couple months off searching, and you might have a little more funds this way too.

Here's the reality - The addiction won't end - even if you bought a 10k machine.
To satisfy the cravings most people say that the more, the merrier. I believe that I'd be happy with about 6 pins, but more than likely, when I have 6, I'll say I'd be happy with 8.

You need more if you want a modern style machine. $1200-$1500 will get you a good working machine. Anything less and its likely to need work of some kind.

Other people will be able to offer you more info. But from my view, your options are going to be much greater in the $1500-2k range. Especially if you are looking for a clean machine without you needing to worry about any repair work. Also, if you go without a dmd you will find more options at the 1k range.

depends on how nice you want the pin to be, how much you want to have to fix, and do you want to get one unshopped. i would probably bump it up to 1500

It really depends what specific games you're looking for. There are definitely pins available under $1500 (or even $1000) all day like Pinbot, Taxi, High Speed, Comet, etc. I've also seen some DMD games like Demolition Man under $1500. You just have to keep your eyes open for deals. Look on Craigslist, Mr. Pinball, Pinside Market, etc.

You're the only one who knows which games you enjoy. If you think you'd like to fix a game, that gives you even more choices (project machines), and you will gain a lot of experience that will help you later on.

I think you can do it.
Maybe try searching for less "trendy" games (which personally I think are some of the best!)
Chances are you can find these titles in pretty good shape for around a grand:

Mousin' Around
Bad Cats
Jokerz
Swords of Fury (I'd love to find one of these!)
Rollergames
Police Force
F-14

A thousand bucks is enough to get into pin ownership. My first pin was a 1977 Eight Ball and well under $1,000. I love that machine. You will learn lots here on Pinside once you have a machine at home. Be patient, make a good purchase, and enjoy!

I got mine after 3 months of searching from a local distributor who gave me a good deal. The more people you meet the better options you'll have.

I've never paid over 2000 for any of the games I've owned so its possible to find deals. I would look for system 11 games. My Elvira cost me less than 3 dollars to get working and never had any issues in the year+ that I owned her. All the system 11 games I know of on location seem to be more reliable than other era games. That said, you are going to have to fix your game or pay someone to do it at some point.

My advice for craigslist is be aggressive, call don't email, get to the sellers place asap, come with cash, a truck and haggle when you are standing with the owner. You can guarantee there are hobbyists and retailers scanning CL constantly looking for deals. The faster you get with the seller and faster you convince him you are serious about buying his pin, the better. Happy hunting!

Depends on your age. If you are old enough to remember 80's games when they were new you can get a nice pin for $1000. If you are younger they probably won't hold your interest.

1k should get you a working, clean game that you can enjoy - but it won't be as full-featured as a 90s and newer DMD game. There should be a few Sys 11 games in that price range, and a few early Bally SS games and WMS Sys 3-7 SS games.

If you want a lot of bells and whistles, it will cost you a little more.

And, this hobby in general, sucks you in and keeps you coming.. most people who get one grow their collections to 3-4 pretty quickly.

1k should be plenty if you are no super picky about condition. I picked up a fully working Flash with minor pf wear for $300 just a month ago. I'd still have $700 of your budget left!

You should post a WTB ad in that massive Nashville thread if you haven't already.

Here you go, a little drive though but a good deal.

http://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/fs-freddy-great-condition-only-1050

I would strongly suggest following the others advice and make some connections but keep building the pin fund to allow more options while you take your time finding the right game and deal with whatever issues it may have that you're comfortable with. Hopefully by the time you find the right deal your pot will be up too.

If you look around and do your own legwork, there are games you can find in the 1k range. But you wont' find it on this site. Put out ads, and you might land.

Judge dread
Demolition man
Jurassic park
Baywatch
Dracula
JM
Time machine (DE)
Phantom of the opera
starship troopers (can be found but usually closer to $1500)

all of these are great titles, but your going to have to do some searching and legwork. Nobody will hand you one of these for that price.

If you are in to sports themes, I have a 1995 Big Hurt for $975.

yep but you will prob have more in your kick by the time you find a good pin for 1k

You might find something good on MrPinball, C-list , or even on our market page
just have to search everyday and when you least expect it one shows up close by

I think $1k will easily land you a game you can enjoy. Picked up my first for $400, 2nd for $800 and 3rd for $1700. I would recommend going into the $1500 range, the variety of pins gets so much greater at that value.

$1k is gonna be harder to find but not impossible. My advice: Quit going to the arcade for a few months or stop drinking beer and save for the $1500 haha. Just thinking of ways to boost some quick savings. Good $1k games:

Baywatch (BW)
F14

You could always try to find a TMNT or Super Mario Bros pin...they seem to be cheap and good starter machines. Don't go buy a STTNG off the bat...you'll pull your hair out and lose interest since some of it can be challenging.

I started with system 11's and would recommend those for anyone wanting to start into pinball. Affordable and not overly complex for doing shop jobs. Tons of good deals available on those if you wait, and usually don't need to wait too long.

Good luck in your search! I wish you were closer. I constantly come across a system 11 of sorts. I just sold a non-working pinbot for $400, but the guy I sold it to got it working right away. Nothing much was wrong with it.

Suggest exploring games outside of the window you mentioned.
The game I usually suggest to newbies is Gtb Sinbad (1977?). Good
game with a variety of shots and challenging enough to stay fun for
a long time. A newer pin that is one of my favorites is Lethal Weapon 3.
These can usually be found for about $1K.

The big problem (as I see it) is most folks have never had a chance to
play older games, and don't discover them until they've sqandered
multi- $K on so-so newer pins. See if there is a pinball show coming
up in your area and play as many pins as you can. Arcades, the few that
are left, have a crummy selection.
Steve

This would be a great first machine for under $1000.

I really think there is a nice sweet sport right now at $1500 to $2000. You can find a lot of good machines for that price. Having said that you can also just get lucky--you've got to be quick thought. The flippers will pounce on anything that's deal. By they time to post here, "is this a good deal"...it will be in someone elses truck. My advise would be to make a long list of games in your budget. That way you can be the one pouncing.

Just looking over the Top 100, some good suggestions would be...BSD, FT, JP, TFTC, DM, JD, JM, T2, DW, SST, Congo, BR, LAH, NF, etc. Not that you need to go with a popular machine. There are a lot of games that I like not on any "top" list.

Are you looking or recommendations or just looking for advice on the dollar amount?

Go to that league you talked about and ask the guys there what are their favorite games in that price range and also ask why they like them.

I spent $600 for my first pin (Firepower) and I plan on keeping it "forever"

Take your time like you said you want to and find a machine you like.

Well, it depends on what machine you want, what shape it's in and who your buying from.

It could totally be, but on the other hand you might be short.