I bought a used tractor also. I am VERY satisfied with how it turned out. Let me relate the approach that I took.
I spent months researching what tractor to buy. I put together a spreadsheet (sorry, I'm a computer geek) with all of the pertinent attributes (like weight, size, HP, lift capacity, tires, etc.) I then filled in the data for all of the major brands and models... Deere, Kubota, NH, Kioti, and Cub. I went to a few dealers and looked at the new ones to compare things like seating, reach, finish, etc. Then I decided which tractor I wanted. In my case, the Cub Cadet 7360 was the right choice.
Now I went to the local Cub dealer and the internet looking for what was available for a 7360. You will need to decide just how urgently (or not) you need this tractor. In my case, I had time to be patient. We had bought our farm, but were only spending weekends and holidays there. So I looked, and looked, and looked. I kept looking to find a low hours machine. I used eBay, Deere's MachineFinder, and other equipment search sites.
Finally found one with only 90 hours at a Deere dealer in Alabama. I was a little concerned about buying sight unseen. I just couldn't travel from New Hampshire to Alabama to kick the tires. I called the Sales Manager at the dealer to get a very complete discription of the machine and its condition. From the phone conversation, I made a judgement on how much I trusted them. I then called BBB to check them out. I had them send a sales agreement, which I checked thoroughly to insure that I was protected. And I went forward.
Keep in mind that equipment prices vary with different areas of the country. The south is usually a little cheaper, as will other high agriculture areas. My local dealer wanted $20K for a new one with a FEL. I ended up paying $13K for this one, plus $1K to ship it to NH. And 90 hours is next to nothing in the lifespan of a tractor. This unit met all of my expectations when it arrived. It was exactly as described. And two years later, I am very happy with the entire transaction and the tractor.
By the way, the dealer was General Equipment Company in Scottsboro, AL <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.thejdplace.com/>http://www.thejdplace.com/</A>
Good luck with your adventure.... have patience.