You don't say where you live but I've noticed there are many more brats for sale on the west coast. Perhaps because of better weather and no salt. We recently bought an 1982 brat for $1,000 but it has issues with a lift kit and we did replace one CV joint but the body itself is in great shape.
If you don't know how to wrench and don't plan to learn I would not recommend buying an old Subie whether it is a brat, hatch or wagon. But they are fantastic cars. We have an 82 Brat, 83 Wagon and 86 Hatch - all with EA81 engines. The wagon and hatch are daily drivers. But I think the Brat is getting an EJ motor we have sitting in the garage.