Joun Deere, Cub Cadet, Toro?

If you're going to drop this kind of money, then look at the commercial brands. Most of these manufacturers will make a high end residential model or low end commercial model for that price point. These will serve you much better for your dollar spend and have many features and designs of their commercial brothers. Gravely, Dixon, Scag, are just a few. If you can't find one, most of the independant Stihl and Echo dealers will have some kind of commercial brand.

Best of luck

Guru of Gardens

We bought an expensive Cub Cadet, and have been disappointed with it. It is not built much better than the inexpensive models...a lot of things have broken on it. Of the three you listed, I would pick John Deere.