Sadly, the resale value of lawn equipment is not nearly as good as compact tractors. We'd be asking about $2500 for one of those.
Bring the soap box over here...
Three times this week I've had customers in who bought over priced Deere lawn / garden tractors. These people are literally sinking 8-9,000 into a light duty piece of lawn equipment. It does not take them long to find out that its not nearly as much tractor as they thought it was. Now 2-3 years later they are wanting to trade. The used market for used L&G equipment is horrible, I can only put about 2,000-2,500 into these super expensive machines, customers get pissed and no one is happy. Todays lesson, when you pass the $6-7,000 price point, don't stop. Get the diesel, 4WD, loader capable machines. It will pay you in the long run.
... end soap box.