How long do you 2 plan to be …,
"beginner kayakers"? If you have any plans to paddle more than 5 miles in one shot and if you plan to do it in a group with faster boats, go for something different. Used is probably best if you can find someone to help you avoid a "problem" boat, unless you get a great off-season deal on your "new" boat.
Many "recreational" paddlers would be happy for several seasons with something like a Wilderness Systems Tsunami or Pungo or Old Town something or the likes. I'd start there and if that does not cut it in a few months, then look for something else.
The sub 12 feet or so department store boats are typically just very limiting in what you can do with them - aside from the typical lack of seaworthiness (no proper bulkheads or dry storage, huge cockpits, lack of skegs, etc.), they are plain slow to paddle and generally inhibit good paddling technique.
There are very few nice 12 footers (CD Kestrel comes to mind) and a lot more nice 14-16 boats that are not "high end" but can still be fun.
Just make sure they are as light as you can get so that you use them more often -;)