A paint job that would last ten years up north can look tired in five on the Gulf Coast. The sun fades color, humidity feeds mildew, and if you live near the water in Anna Maria, Cortez, or Venice, salt air works on every surface too.
Start with the product. Use a quality exterior acrylic made for masonry and stucco, with mildew resistance built in. On older stucco with fine cracks, an elastomeric coating can bridge small movement. Cheap paint costs the same to apply and needs redoing years sooner.
Color matters more than people think. Very dark body colors absorb heat and fade faster in direct sun. Mid-tone greys, sages, and warm neutrals hold their look longer, and dark accents work well on shutters and doors where they're easier to refresh.
Timing matters too. In the rainy season we start early, watch the radar, and stop before the afternoon storms roll in. Paint needs a few dry hours to set, and stucco needs to be dry after pressure washing before primer goes on.