I thought I would make people aware that the cost to insure a brick home is considerably higher than other materials.  The reason is that brick tends not to do very well in earthquakes.  Most of the time it just causes cracks in the mortar.  However, the best way to fix the problem is to pull all of the brick down and start over.  That is why insurance costs are so much higher with a brick home.  Nevertheless, most insurance companies will allow you to opt out of the brick clause, which means you can't ever claim brick damage.  Many homeowners choose to do this and hope they don't get hit with a big earthquake.  If you do have a few unsightly mortar cracks, you can hire a mason to chisel out the mortar and then replace that section. In most instances, that is what the insurance company would have done anyway.  Be sure to check with your insurance company for their specific policies.