Below a window in our home (built 1950s, southern Wisconsin) the paint is cracking and upon further inspection, it is following a crack in the wall behind it. I know it is a brick exterior, but do not know what the interior wall is (hard, doesn't scratch with a coin, looks cementy). I need to know how to fix the paint job at least (scrape away flaking paint, scrape, sand edges, do I need a special primer, etc...) and if the wall cracking behind it is something that I should be worried about. Currently upside in a home with a balloon mortgage coming due so mostly worried about the inspection in the short term.
I would really appreciate any help that could be given.