Looking for suggestions on buying a banjo

I tried learning a few years back. I too played guitar. I bought a brand new (your price range) Deering Goodtime because it was recommended to me as a good starting banjo. It's nice and light, sounds pretty good but kind of feels like a toy. If you end up really wanting to get serious learning the banjo you'd probably move up to a higher end instrument but it's a good one to test the waters.

Do you finger pick a lot on the guitar?

In a really bastardized way yeah. Will often use a normal pick with my fingers. Have never really used actual fingerpicks exclusively but would probably get them since that's more integral for a banjo.

Some of those glue on nails can work pretty well,use the thick ones and keep them short.

Going to banjo is hard from being a regular guitar player. I wish I had tried banjo 1st.

The Gibson models with the Earl Scruggs Cam Tuners are nice.