I wasn't able to buy a house last year as planned, but we are finally ready and just started looking again. We found one we like, but I have a few questions about its construction.

It was built on a slab and the exterior is stucco. The slab extends out about 10 feet across the back for a patio and about 20 feet along one side of the house for a parking area.

1. I have never owned a house with stucco. Anyone have any pros or cons?
2. I have never owned a slab house either. On one like this where the slab extends out away from the house, how do you keep rain water from running under the walls into the house?

May not be noticeable but the slab is probably graded so that water drains away from the house

Maybe so. That would make sense.

On a slab one of the worst things I had happen was a busted water line under the slab in the middle of the house.

Patio Slab souuld be 3-4" lower than the house slab or you will have water problems.

It would be very unusual for the house slab, patio, and drive way to all be the same slab. They may touch, but not very likely they are the same slab.

Stucco houses can be a nightmare for termite problems. Every one I've ever seen has had significant termite damage. It can be cut back to where a few inches of slab is visible at the ground level, which is what we require people to do for us to cover it for termite damages.

It's definitely not the same slab. Generally porches, patios, and garages are all poured separately

The slab should be no problem.....With that said I would not own a stucco house. I have repaired to many from termites and water damage. Buy at your own risk. Its not a matter of if, but when something happens to it.

How old is the house? Stucco is very long lasting if done properly. ("Properly" being the key word).

I did not see any cracks or gaps to suggest it is more than one slab.

It has luon paneling, so I would say late 70s or the 80s. But I have no way to know if it was done correctly, but it looks really good.

What is it about stucco that makes it more prone to termites?

I know that I will NOT pressure wash a stucco house. They are a nightmare to keep clean, especially if they are a brighter color stucco.

Stucco seems to hold more moisture and there are lots of voids in it. So when termites get in, they have a perfect environment. We've even seen above ground nests in stucco, they normally are only underground. When they find a solid water source, they can nest above ground. They generally cause more damage in stucco houses because of this

It depends on if it is real stucco or some type of dryvit type material.

There are two stucco houses close by. Both less than 10 years old. Both are already showing signs of damage due to humidity.

I agree, they need to be soft washed (low pressure high volume).

Hey, bud. How old is the house? If it's synthetic stucco, you don't want it. I have seen stucco get wet and when a freeze comes along, it cracks and can actually have pieces broken off. There are some good stucco houses around though. Find a house that the builder put stucco on a few years ago and check it out.
Stucco is also a pain to clean if you get mud or clay stains on it.

From what I have always seen/heard is if you have stucco on your house you will have problems. Prone to leaks, damage around windows, discolored areas, mildew issues externally, termite damage, can develop holes overtime.

I have seen several houses have the stucco removed and replaced with vinyl or brick.