Getting a high BTU pro style range is going to be quite a stretch with a $1.5K budget. Even Chinese-made NXR, the cheapest pro style range available (which a lot of people here have and really like) starts at $2k.

Fortunately, if you just go with a standard freestanding range, you have a ton of options with that budget and it will definitely buy you convection. And most gas ranges at that price point are going to have a high BTU "power burner" that rivals pro style ranges. They might also have a lower BTU simmer burner. So although you may not be able to get the full range you want on EVERY burner, it should meet your needs. Another option that is in reach for you is a double oven range. You'll lose the storage drawer on the bottom, but gain a small upper oven, while retaining a full-size lower oven. People who own these tend to use the upper oven the most, and love how quickly it preheats and how convenient it is. But they still have the lower oven available if they want convection or really need the space.

I'm not convinced that brand matters in this price range. I say that from personal experience being a landlord. In my rental properties I have GE, Whirlpool, and Frigidaire products (which should be the main brands you look at, plus Bosch) and they rarely fail. I've noticed no real difference in quality or reliability. Free standing ranges are one of the simplest appliances out there and rarely fail. When they do, they're very easy to fix. Another advantage to freestanding ranges is that placing the controls on the backsplash shields them from the heat of the oven. Therefore, no cooling fans are required, unlike slide in ranges and wall ovens. Good luck shopping!

I'd recommend instead of going with the cheaper end of a "pro" brand range, go with the upper end of a normal/residential range with a solid reputation. People on the forum seem to have hard alliances for and against certain brands. I'd look online for reviews and ratings, and go with a solid, top of the line KitchenAid, JennAir and Kenmore Elite range. Look for deals around the holiday weekend coming up. You will be happy with it for a while and can swap out for a pro style range in a few years and get what you want, rather than settling for something you could afford.

Kenmore does not make anything, they rebadge other stuff. There is absolutely no reason to buy it unless they have a configuration that isn't available in the manufacturer's own brand. The only difference with Kenmore is that you are locked into Sears for warranty service and only Sears technicians have access to technical info.

JennAir doesn't even sell freestanding ranges anymore, except ProStyle ones which are way out of the OP's budget.

Thanks for these suggestions. Maybe I just need to get something cheaper but acceptable and then invest in a solid piece a little further down the road. I hesitate to bump our budget up for a range just as we are buying our first home...who knows what we may have to deal with in the first couple of years?!

I'll look through the forum and see what I can find for recommendations in the $1,000-$1,500 and if that's not much different from the $750 price range go for something that cheap at first.

There are plenty of good options at $1.5k! You do not need to spend $2000+ to get a "solid piece". If you have your heart set on pro style, 20,000+ BTU burners, then yeah you might want to go cheap now and save up, but that's not the impression I got from your original post.

I gave you some recommendations in my post above...

Whirlpool (this includes Maytag, Amana, Kitchenaid)
Frigidaire (this includes Electrolux, Kenmore)
GE
Bosch

The ranges at this price point won't look significantly different from the $750 ones, but they'll have more features available that you'll appreciate if you cook a lot, such as double/convection ovens and power/simmer burners.

Craigslist a used one for now if a complete redo is in the future. Then put that 1K saved into the remodel fund.

Congratulations on your first home! I know what it's like to deal with rental appliances, and it's exciting to get something all your own.

I remodeled my kitchen on a tight budget two years ago. I replaced my fridge and dishwasher, but still have an 11-year-old low-end, 30" free-standing gas Kenmore. It has never had a bad day and does whatever I ask of it. I don't need a fire-breathing dragon, but can sear just fine. I'm more appreciative of a decent simmer burner.

My stove is fairly homely looking, but I just can't justify spending $2-3K on a cosmetic issue. I think others have posted some good suggestions, even checking out Craigslist for a good-looking bargain.

Honestly, I've grown to love the high-rise back on my stove. It protects my wall and I don't have a noisy fan to contend with.

I just got back from a NKBA meeting at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and that would be a great option for someone with a budget. There had to be at least 10 ranges that were in good shape there, not to mention just about every appliance under the sun.

The new Bosch all-gass 30" slide-in range comes in two grades, and AJ Madison shows the 800-series (as opposed to the Benchmark) at just under $1,900. I saw it in person at a showroom and it's got heavy steel knobs, looks nice, and seems to straddle a position between "consumer" and "pro" style. It does have one high BTU central burner as well.

I hadn't thought of checking ReStore, but we have two of them in our area and definitely will! I've been looking at the Bosch ranges, on sale they can drop down under $1.9K.

Our offer was just accepted on the house, which is great news! I'm seeing that Home Depot and Lowes have great sales. Based on your experience, would these stores sell us appliances now and deliver them at the end of July when we will be able to move into the place?

I have gone through appliance nightmare in the last 3 years and still processing. So far here are my thoughts. Whatever you do stay away from a bosch fridge. Unless its the new French door made under whirlpool. Please just trust me on this. Bosch does however make a very nice range. I had the freestanding 700 series gas range HGS7282UC. LOVED. The BTU is powerful where you are boiling water in mins yet you have a nice summer as well. It's all made of quality metal and materials I had it for over two years and I only had one tiny scratch on the cooktop from where rice got stuck on my sponge. It was a dream. Convection warming drawer meat probe even had a dehydrating option. Sadly I let that range go thinking an all matching set would be nicer and went with a high end kitchenaid range. Biggest mistake ever. The bosch range was 1700 but I have seen it for around the 1500 mark and I really don't think you would regret it. I hate my kitchen aid that cost more has less options and IMO is flimsy junk. It has all the so called powerful burners but they can't compare to my old bosch. If you want pro style on a budget Bosch would be my choice by far.

The Bosch ranges won't be available till August, I believe, so no choice but to wait if you go with one of those :)

I buy a lot through Home Depot for rentals, You can buy how and have deliver later. They will also haul away the old. But unless you have a very simple install, I would probably pick my own installer.

I manage rentals too, so I know the next to lowest price appliances pretty well. For my own place, as much as I would love an expensive range, I would rather upgrade more often and buy something cheaper. I don't like black because it shows everything, would love SS but would probably skip just because I do not want to worry should my elderly mom decide to help and clean the wrong direction. Plain old boring white is what I would probably pick and one with out a lot of extra electronics as well.

Lots of good recommendations here. I'm looking at the GE Profile. Any thoughts on this particular range?

When I was looking for stoves about a year ago, I was told that the lower priced Bosch ranges are actually made by Frigidaire. The models with "true European convection" are made by Bosch. Or so I was told.

^ That's true. Bosch makes their own slide ins but it looks like Electrolux makes all their freestanding ranges (Bosch made the 700 series themselves but that looks to be discontinued). Nothing wrong with that, but you might as well buy them under the Frigidaire brand and save money. GE makes a good range, at least based on my experience with one of their electric slide ins.

Congrats on the home purchase!

My mother and I went through Lowes and Home Depot and saw a lot of nice gas options from Bosch and GE for ~$1K. The extra savings will go a long way towards a nice HE washer/dryer combo. Add a refrigerator and you get big bundled savings.

Take advantage of the 4th of July sales and deferred delivery. It will save you significantly over waiting a couple of weeks for the move in.