I wonder why no one has recommended an Aztec? For that budget, you could get one of the newest, get it loaded including K-ice, and have good times on the engines.
It is one of the only airplanes that can carry its own weight (2600 empty-5200 gross). Very hard to overweight an Aztec, even with 188 gal tanks. I can't imagine it would be any more on maint. than a Beech, and the Beech is a 2-3 person airplane with full tanks. With an Aztec you can put 6 people in and go somewhere almost 1000 miles away.

Just an example, not affiliated with this.
http://www.trade-a-plane.com/detail/991076.html