Hi,
Your budget can get you a perfectly good road bike if you are willing to buy slightly used. My first road bike was a barely used Bianchi Eros Donna, which I picked up on eBay for $570 incl. shipping.

The other advantage of starting out used is that you can make a smaller investment when you're still figuring out your riding needs and style. After one season, I sold the Bianchi (for $450, sold in one day), and I just picked up an 06 floor model on eBay that fits me much better - for 50% off retail!

I'm not recommending eBay for everyone - you need to understand your own bike sizing and preferences very well to buy successfully online. But wherever you buy used, if you stick with well-known brands and take good care of your bikes, they're also pretty easy to resell.