newdeal, make sure you try one out before buying. Considered a drive to Dunnville to test out a Kioti? Check all the brands before making a decision.
If your local MF dealer is in Vineland? , it is owned by a company that has several MF/Kubota dealers so they have little incentive to compete in pricing. I've used them for warranty work for a tractor that wasn't bought there, and had no problems. Decide what attachments you may want to go with the tractor and try to include them in the purchase price. Rear blade, box blade, snowblower ,
chipper etc. Not financing can make a difference.
If you don't have a trailer to move the tractor, you may be able to get free pickup for warranty service. That was pretty standard 5 years ago, not sure if they still do it.
IMO turfs would probably be better than R4s for mowing and snow clearing. Even R1s in mud won't help a lot. You'll still end up having to use the FEL to drag yourself out. You quickly learn to use 2WD until you get stuck, and 4WD to get unstuck.