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#1 know your fitment.
Once you know your size, just buy used, especially if this is your first road bike. After you have ridden for a while and know you will keep enjoying it, then look at buying new. Also, you will get to know what type of riding you want to do and what type of bike is best for your situation. You will be able to get a bike that cost $3,000 a year ago for $1,000 bucks today.
I would probably start with steel and look for a bike with better components/wheels. Unless you are racing, a nicely setup steel bike will be a great all around bike. Steel is nice because it is forgiving and takes a lot of the harshness out of the ride...great for touring, yet perfectly great for other types of riding as well. Aluminum is harsh, stiff and quick. Carbon is more compliant, stiff, light and expensive. Ti is lighter than steel, yet compliant like steel, but more expensive.
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