I'd go with some thing you can get locally too. Especially since you aren't sure what you want. Especially if you aren't very experienced with bike DIY.

If you think most of your riding will be on roads and paved trails, then get something good for that and just accept that the few times you'll be off road you'll just have to suck it up.

If paved I'd go for a road bike. If some gravel roads too then a cross or gravel bike which to me is a road bike that can go more places than a pure road bike.