What are the true cost difference between bricking a house vs. hardie plank and properly applied stucco?

Question:I am looking to build app. 2000sqft house and prefer brick due to look and low care cost. I know Hardie Plank and stucco are cheaper inital instulation cost but when you add painting cost and labor that it would be close to cost. I have heard horror stories about stucco improperly installed (materials and workmanship) with cracking and bottom crumbling away.I also been told that painting 3sqft..I would like to also know yall opinon on different materials and the true cost of different sidings and cost of painting. Also any items I should look out for or benfits(ex. resale value ) of certain materials.

Answers:
I have seen many, thousands, of homes for which stucco made a fine exterior treatment. I have also seen thousands of brick homes that were not problem. You might consider a mixture of exterior surfaces to create interest and variety. I just finished building a 3,400 SF custom home with real stone, but only 1inch thick, stucco, and vertical rough sawn cedar siding. It looks quite nice. You don't have to pick one. Put brick up 4 feet and stucco or something else above for instance. Hardi siding is very weather resistant and hold
paint well so its maintenance is minimal.

Cost wise, Hardi will be much cheaper to install and little to maintain. Stucco will be three times as expensive as Hardi or other siding because of so much labor. Brick will be twice as much as stucco, more labor and more for material.