Spider Cracks in brick - bad?

[Andrew S.]

Hi,
I'm not sure if this is the right place for this question but I'll give it a shot: I'm in the process of buying a brick-siding property where the inspection record points out "spider cracks" (stair-step cracks) in the brick in several places. The bricks themselves are not cracked, just the mortar. The house is 45 years old. Is this an indication of a serious problem or is this just minor shifting over time? The cracks are not wide (< 1/4 inch)
Thanks for any input!
A

[Ryan R.]

I'd recommend getting it sealed up though. The longer its exposed to air/moisture the more problems can occur.