CuriousGeorge,
I too am pretty new around here, and was in a similar situation a couple years ago.
There any many great saws out there across a few different brands, and since joining this site I have picked up a couple bigger and badder saws. They cut great, and do way more than I would ever need as a property owner (I don't heat with wood and only cuts as needed or for fun).
Since you are a new property owner, like me, I would assume you have many other projects that also currently require much of your hard earned cash. home repairs, mowers, sprayers, atv, tractor, weed eater, etc.
As such, I would recommend getting a 16" bar, semi chisel chain, and a 2 in 1 sharpener. The shorter bar will help with the limited power of the 290, the semi chisel chain will help you keep from dulling the chain as fast (doesn't cut quite as fast, but it keeps you cutting), and the 2 in 1 sharpener will allow you to quickly touch up the chain on each refill of the saw so that it is always good and sharp as blsnelling mentioned. Additionally, the 16" bar on that saw still gets you through a 18" - 20" tree with little to no problem.
I run this exact setup on my 50cc pro grade saw(the closest I have to your saw), and it eats all the wood I can feed it. If you are ever cutting up brush and don't want to have to bend over as far, the 20" bar and chain could be put back on (I do this regularly). I think the 290 would do what you need it to, but doesn't necessarily do it in style.
In a year or two you can surely find a great deal in the tradin' post on a bigger saw. I have a 50cc/70+cc saw combo now, but you could probably get a 60cc class saw to complement the 290 and be thrilled with it. Dolmar, Stihl, Husky, and Jonsered all have good saws that will do all you need in that class. Again, I don't think this is a requirement for the usage you listed.
If I were you, I would prioritize something else on my property first. I think my best investment for property maintenance was a quality stihl weedeater with the tri-headed steel blade. It takes out brush up to an inch or so in diameter, and I get anything bigger with the saw. This is how I clean up all my trails and property lines.
Good Luck fighting the CAD.