The Core i7 isn't the only thing new from Intel. The X58 chipset, the only option currently available for Core i7 processors, is also new. This means that prices are relatively high, but there are good deals to be found if you choose carefully.
Traditionally, Intel has debuted new products by focusing on the high-end market first, and then allowing the technology to trickle down into more budget-oriented hardware. The release of the Core i7 processor follows this strategy, as did the platform. The only chipset currently available for Core i7 processors is Intel's X58 chipset. The motherboards based on this chipset are aimed more towards enthusiasts than towards value-minded users.
That said, finding a good value in a Intel X58 motherboard is likely more important now than it will ever be in the future. Prices are astonishingly low for a recently released enthusiast chipset, which makes it unlikely that waiting a year (maybe even more) will result in significantly better values. Also, buying the best Intel X58 possible now means that the core of your PC will be ready to accept the best Intel processors for the new few years.
Gigabyte's GA-EX58-UD3R is, discounting possible sale prices, currently the cheapest Core i7 motherboard than money can buy. At a price of $199 dollars, this Gigabyte X58 motherboard has a price comparable to mid-range enthusiast motherboards for the older LGA 775 socket. That's a very impressive value. This may still be much more than you'd pay for a middle-of-the-road P45 motherboard, but it goes a long way towards negating the early-adopter penalty that current Core i7 buyers face.
Even better, this is a Gigabyte board. It is not odd to see budget-minded board makers like ASRock or Bioware come out with cheap boards. And it isn't unusual to see their users complain about defects and missing features. But this board should be as sturdy as any other Gigabyte product, which is plenty sturdy.
There are a few things missing from the EX58-UD3R. The board only has 4 RAM slots, compared to the six found on many X58 boards, which means the ways you can configure your RAM will be more limited than on other X58 boards. Also, this board lacks SLI support, which can be found on many Core i7 motherboards. However, it does support ATI's Crossfire.
All things considered, the GA-EX58-UD3R is an outstanding value. If you'd like to purchase the Core i7, but want to try and keep the costs as low as possible, this is the motherboard to buy.