Best $400 or less homeowner quality chainsaw?

I was gonna suggest a Stihl pro model, but that's above your price range. If you don't want to up your budget, I'd suggest a 271 with a 16 or 18" bar and RS chain. You should be happy with that

Eta: As long as I've been using chainsaws and cut professionally, I haven't liked Husky saws. They don't make power like their Stihl counterparts. Stihl makes torque and Husky just spins fast. That's also why they break and you've got to wait a week for parts

Stihl would be my first choice. But, a Echo makes a good one too about half the price with a 5 year warranty. Around $300. Was the last one I bought about a year ago and use it a lot. No problems at all with it. Just make sure you use a good chain oil with any good saw.

Stihl sucks balls get a husky or echo
If you buy stihl go ahead & cuy 1/2 dozen carburetors you will need them.

Get a STIHL, just make sure you either run ethanol free gas or just add stabil to each tank of gas.

I havent had any carb issues and Im three years in with mine and use it much harder than the average homeowner.

Just bought a Tanaka 14 inch. I've used their string trimmers for years. Good stuff.
$179.99
Very happy.

I run 10% ethanol in mine and let it sit for months. Knock on wood, no problems in 4 years of doing that with either one of my saws. I'm sure it'll happen eventually, but it isn't like you're pouring liquid instant destruction in the tank. The new ones have ethanol-resistant fuel lines/seals/gaskets/etc.

Go to Tractor Supply and buy a Jonsered of the appropriate size for you (about 40cc or so is about right). Don't worry about all the brand love/hate. Any decently made saw will last a long time if you take care of it.

I have a 30-year-old Poulan that still has a bow blade on it that works just fine and has never had any problems and a new Husqvarna that runs and cuts very well.

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Go to Tractor Supply and buy a Jonsered of the appropriate size for you (about 40cc or so is about right). Don't worry about all the brand love/hate. Any decently made saw will last a long time if you take care of it.

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jonsereds are great chain saws. No need to spend an extra $100 on a similar speced Stihl most quality chain saws are just as good or better than their more expensive Stihl counterparts. I read a bunch on arborforums which is filled with guys who use chain saws for a living and came away with that opinion and ended up with a Jonsered.

If you want something to cut up downed branches and you can get 110v to your work site the Worx Jaw saw is the truth. We have one at the lake house. I've not seen a safer easier to use tool than the jaw saw for branch cutting. No more bending over. Unless you are cutting in soft muddy earth you don't have to worry about screwing up your chain in the dirt. Zero worry about kickback. One of the best $100 I've ever spent on a tool. So spend $300 on a chain saw. $100 on the jaw saw. You will find you will very rarely ever take the chain saw out.

LINK

edited to add. We've run it off the Honda EU1000 with no problems.

Stihl Farmboss would be a good fit. Echo, Hitachi/Tanaka, Makita/Jonesered, Efco, Husky all make great saws. No saw is going to last when maintenance is neglected. No matter what you choose, keep plenty of sharp chain on hand, know how to keep it sharp, buy high quality fuel mix oil (Stihl has some of the best), and bar/chain oil (once again, Stihl), and don't try to force an undersized saw to do jobs it's not meant for. You say you have a 20" tree down? Is that the average on the property? If so or you have bigger you really should consider a mid-range saw around the 50cc - 55cc class. Stihl MS 271, Jonesered/Makita 2250, Echo 590, Hitachi/Tanaka CS51 are all around $400 range.