Welcome to TFL, charlie brown!
If you're going to really get the most of the knowledge that our TFL members have to offer, you're going to have to help us help you. There are several questions that routinely come up on these First Handgun Purchase threads, so I'm just going to go ahead and ask them. Having this information will give us a better idea of what your needs might be. So, with all of that in mind:
1) What's the intended purpose of this gun? Will you use it for home defense? Just for range fun? (Given that you're a "jersey resident," I'm going to operate on the assumption that this gun will not be for concealed carry. Please correct me if I'm wrong.)
2) How much experience do you have with firearms? I know you say that this will be a "first handgun purchase," but that doesn't tell us whether you've got any history with firearms (range, military, etc.) that might have imparted some knowledge to you.
3) Do you have a preference for: (a) metal frames vs. polymer frames; (b) hammer-fired vs. striker-fired; (c) revolver or semi-auto; or (d) caliber?
4) What is your budget? You mention that the 92fs is "a little expensive," but I don't have the foggiest clue what those run in NJ. Taurus makes a clone of one of the Beretta models in "the 92 line," but I also don't know enough about the Beretta models or the Taurus clones to tell you which ones they've cloned, how closely they've done so, or offer any worthwile advice on either of those. Also, when figuring your budget, don't forget to include all of the collateral expenses, like ammunition. When it's my money on the line, I'd much rather have a $500 gun and $500 worth of ammo than a $1000 gun and no ammo.
5) Is there a range near you where you can rent guns? This is very important: Choosing a handgun is a very subjective thing. We can debate calibers, capacity, weight, width, etc., all day long (and sometimes we do), but until you hold one in your hand or, better yet, rent one and shoot it, you won't know how it feels in your hand, and that's a very important factor. How it feels in my hand is irrelevant.
Edited to add: Because this is specifically a question about a handgun purchase, I'm going to move it to our "Handguns: General Handguns Forum" where you might get a little more action on it.