The color appears uniform, so I suspect the former.You might consider sandblasting and going over the existing mortar with a lighter shade of new mortar. 

I'm essentially a civilian in uniform, we deploy about once every ten years.

For example, door and window sizes are all over the board and generally not uniform.

Single Family-Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Uniform InstrumentGrantor does hereby convey, release, and quitclaim all of the grantor's rights, title, and interest in and to the above described property and premises to the Grantee(s), and to the Grantee(s) heirs and assigns forever, so that neither Grantor(s) nor Grantor's heirs, legal representatives or assigns shall have, claim or demand any right or title to the property, premises, or appurtenances, or any part there of.A transfer as part of the division of property in a divorceEXCEPTING AND RESERVING unto Grantor(s) a life estate interest in the above described real estate on the terms listed below.TERMS OF LIFE ESTATEGrantor shall retain the right to use, occupy and possess the real estate described herein for the remainder of Grantors life.

The landscape has changed with institutional buyers, ibuyers, instant and uniform access to information, Zillow placing all home listings on the internet, tons of cash floating around, lenders pushing money like dealers push drugs, etc. 

Terms are pretty uniform though some have a 15yr draw.

@Cyndie Rogers Section 8 is not one uniform program, each market will have it's own PHA(s) that administer that program locally and each has their own rules and protocols.

Add to these benefits the following: low barriers to entry; high leverage via easy to obtain financing; centralized (most of the time, personal) decision (and control) making; stable and uniform 'product' standards; regulated sales/broker industry (NCREC). 

Also personal property can be secured but using a UCC filing  (Uniform Commercial Code). 

Luckily, they all use the Uniform Building Code (in one version or another) reserving the right to amend this code to their perceived "local conditions."