Also, City rec departments, etc. They use good commercial equipment and most is well maintained. I bought a 26 HP Toro Groundsmaster from the city of Des Moines many years ago that was a great machine. I mowed several acres with it for years. Paid a small fraction of what it would have cost new.
In my commercial experience, I used a Scag 48" walk-behind. Belt driven, which tends to slip when it gets damp from rain or early-morning jobs. The velke (the wheel you stand on to ride behind) is a very nice touch. I also used a Lesco-branded 48" walk behind, except that one was hydrostatic-drive, which allowed tighter turns more like a zero-turn mower (although they both could turn on a dime. That mower had a 2-wheel 'trailer' to stand on, so you didn't end up with that track in the middle of your pass. Both mowers held up well, and both could stripe a (tall fescue) lawn like a golf course. Riders are nice, but for tighter lawns and energetic help, I believe walk-behinds are the way to go. Find out where the local pros go to service their mowers, they often have used and trade-ins for sale, as well as the chance to hook up with other guys looking to sell equipment. Good luck
