For a first guitar in your budget I'd definitely recommend going for a Taylor. For several reasons. 1. They are well made 2. Easy to play (low action) 3. Designed to be easy to repair and set-up 4. Stay in tune and have good intonation
I have several acoustic guitars, some of them high end. The one I end up playing the most is my Taylor 322e. It's so easy to play and sounds great.
An easy playing acoustic guitar is truly a priority. You want one that is hard to put down!