My current projector is the Epson 7500 UB, but I used to have a Sony VPL-AW15, which was a 720p projector. That was a fantastic projector, and I would absolutely recommend it to you as a stop-gap projector until you're able to get something newer.
My parents have the Panasonic PT-AX200U which was one of the more popular 720p projectors, but I much preferred my Sony. The Panasonic could go brighter, but to my eyes the Sony put out a crisper picture with more "sparkle", which I suppose probably meant it had more contrast. As I mentioned, the Sony is not a terribly bright projector, but if you have a light-controlled space then you're rewarded with a very nice picture.
I eventually bought an Epson 8100 to replace my Sony, and while it had more resolution as a 1080p unit and it could go brighter, I didn't feel like it was a meaningful upgrade from my Sony when it came to watching movies. It wasn't until I got my Epson 7500UB that I felt like I had a significant upgrade from my old 720p Sony.
In addition to the great picture quality, the VPL-AW15, like a lot of LCD projectors, provides a generous amount of lens shift and lens zoom, making it very flexible in placement.
The VPL-AW15 frequently sells on eBay for around $400, but right now there's not one listed at a good price. According to your profile, you're in Dexter, Maine. I did a search on Craigslist, and found the following VPL-AW15 listed in Gardner, Massachusetts for $325, complete with a new spare bulb:
http://worcester.craigslist.org/ele/3874288268.html
It's a bit far if you're not already heading that way for some reason, but you might contact him and see if he is willing to ship if you pay with PayPal. I've had pretty good luck doing that on Craigslist, but some people don't want to ship. Worth a shot though. Otherwise, you might setup an automatic search on eBay to alert you whenever an AW15 is listed.
Here's a couple professional reviews of the AW15:
http://www.projectorreviews.com/sony/vpl-aw15/
http://www.projectorcentral.com/sony_vpl-aw15.htm?page=Overview
