Hey there Bgruber1985!

My advice to you, with your current budget would be one of two options:

1) Look for a chromoly steel-framed road bike on CL and gradually upgrade your components

- OR -

2) Order a bike online through Bikesdirect.com.

This is the bike that I would suggest for you, if 61cm is your size:

www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/mirage_xi_steel.htm
The Motobecane Mirage Road Bike ~ $300



* Chromoly steel is a very tough and durable type of steel. It's has a longer fatigue life than aluminum and will give you decades of service, if kept dry. It's ride quality is absolutely incomparable. The extraordinarily good thing about chromoly steel, is that when your components wear out, you can rest assured that your frame will be in the same condition after your replacement components have worn out, as well. Steel lasts for decades! Nobody can say that truthfully, about any other frame material, other than titanium.

- Slim