You have a lot of solid options. Personally, I'd skip the compact tractors but that's me. Compact tractors don't take abuse well... which can consist of overloading which happens more than you think. There are a lot of compact tractors with bent buckets, frames and similar issues... including the name brands.
I say skip it as you sound like you're going to be working them a bit.
I do think you'd be well served by a 40-50 horse though. Now I'm an IH guy (though I have other colors too). Even a 350U Farmall with a loader could work well, though I'd recommend starting at a 504U then looking around there and on up. (454's fit really well and are/were popular around here, holding their value) and all the models close by (544/444/etc...)
There are a lot of good options in many colors. I think Ford had some good options as well as Case. If you are looking for a MFWD, Ford does seem to have more available at lower prices. You get more for your money with older tractor regardless.
Now I'll make the caveat that if you have NO mechanical capabilities you might consider buying new with a warranty. Anything much older than 15 years old will need work on occasion. Hiring other people costs a lot of money :)
That said you can find most parts for JD and IH no matter the model built since 1940. My newest tractor is a 74 and works great but I do work on it myself. Don't be tempted by Long tractors. Parts are really tough to find, though I've heard there is now someone who's bringing in new parts for these now, but I don't know for certain. You can find them on the cheap, but there's a reason why.
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Today's Featured Article - Third Brush Generators - by Chris Pratt. While I love straightening sheet metal, cleaning, and painting old tractors, I use every excuse to avoid working on the on the electrics. I find the whole process sheer mystery. I have picked up and attempted to read every auto and farm electrics book with no improvement in the situation. They all seem to start with a chapter entitled "Theory of Electricity". After a few paragraphs I usually close the book and go back to banging out dents. A good friend and I were recently discussing our tractor electrical systems when he stated "I figure it all comes back to applying Ohms Law". At this point
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