I would get something like this
Acoustic Promotional Guitar Epiphone Model AJ-100 then spend the extra budget getting it setup at a local shop.
Some of these guys answering you are really good guitar players, and know far more than me. But I've been playing a couple years and I don't have any guitars that cost $500. I would start cheap and if your skills get to the point where you can benefit from a better guitar that will be the time to shell out the bucks.
Spending the extra money for a setup job will make it playable, especially for a beginner.