one of the things noted in the Fortune TMND article is the author chose to build a house with brick because although the front end was more expensive, it would save lots on painting. We have stucco and I agree whole-heartedly - more for the time than the cost but I like the savings.

Hopefully you don't have the synthetic stucco that they have in NC. I don't know the difference between synthetic and other stucco. But synthetic stucco has a problem with moisture being retained between the stucco and framing causing the house to rot from the inside out. The cost of removing the stucco, making repairs, and residing the house with something else has been costing $25,000 and up.

Big stink here! High percentage of homes with stucco damaged.

-PSU