OP: You should look on the used market, and avoid carbon frames. My local bike shop had a mint condition Litespeed titanium 700c road bike with top-end Campagnolo components, for less than $1000 I think. I'm using a panniered folder as townie these days, but back in my roadie days I would have drooled. However, it had rim brakes, and while those were fine when I lived and rode on the flats, in my very hilly area now with frequent brake use, I would want disc brakes to prevent rim sidewall wear.

A good titanium frame, or quality lugged steel, would probably suit you well. Aluminum is quite common now at lower cost, but more difficult to achieve as good a ride without metal fatigue issues.