If you live in Southwest Oklahoma, you've seen it. As an appraiser I've seen it quite often and up close: Brick homes with lengthy cracks between bricks, giving the look of stair-steps.

Such stair-step cracks on exterior walls often are accompanied by severe cracks in patios and driveways.

When I see that on the outside, I'm not surprised to find it inside as well, showing up as interior wall cracks or even separation between a wall and ceiling.