Riding Lawnmower

Ariens/Gravely.

Paying extra for a welded deck is worth it.

I would think you could get into a "prosumer" one for $4k or so.

I saw an Ariens with a welded deck and a Kawasaki motor at HD that looked nice.

Sure Scag, Dixie Chopper, and others are better mowers but you don't need to spend $10k to mow a half an acre once a week.

IMO.. with a 1/2 acre lot I wouldn't spend alot, on something that small the cheaper ones from HD or Lowe's should last you many years

1. How is the grass and lot?
(Rough)- heavy duty machine prosumer unit
$3,499 on up or garden tractor $1,999 on up to ($3,799 to $4,500 for drive shaft unit).
(Residential smooth lot) - bag riding tractor to residential zero turn $1,099 to $3,000.

2. Do you have a lot of trees to cut around, fences to get through, tight area to store it inside if you choose that option, flower beds to get around, etc?
Should be able to stay around $1,099 to $3,000 depends on what you want.

Straight away- basic lawn tractor or rider 42"/46" up to 50" to 54" would be fine or even residential zero turn.

Rough ground a rider would be alittle better for the price point.

Cut around trees, get through fence etc-
Zero turn 42" or 46" or rider 42" or 46"

You have a lot of options and if you answer these questions then find the brand you want.

Smaller rides have low back seats for less cutting time. Higher the back on the seat the longer it is designed to go. They do that for a reason so a guy does not try to cut 3 acres with $999 unit.

Don't get caught up with kunckle heads with drool dripping put their mouth saying Kawasaki. They had some bad engines (weak metal on the valves and they would break) also. They did fix it on their prosumer units but all these engines break. Kohler, Briggs, Kawasaki, and the imports engine now have good engines and up bad ones. Import engines some are thinner metal and not there yet. Some are good engines and suprise made at the same plants in China as the name brand engines. Some just like the brand names are junk. A lot of them in this series have issues with air filter staying on and the dirt gets in the engine. Once that happens it is over with.
Again, Kawasaki just came back out with the residential engines this year after being out of this business for a few years. Do not put your final decision on this.

Remember Father's Day you will catch some sales!