After falling for four days and then holding at that level for another day, rates on 30-year mortgages added points Thursday, as did most other loan types.

The average rate on the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell 12 basis points to 6.94% in the week ending Jan. 23, according to rates provided to NerdWallet by Zillow. A basis point is one-one hundredth of a percentage point. The previous week had been the first time that the 30-year rate had inched above 7% since May.

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. eased this week to just below 7%, its first decline after climbing five weeks in a row. The rate fell to 6.96% from 7.04% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, it averaged 6.69%.

“Mortgage rates ticked up for the fifth consecutive week and crossed 7% for the first time since May of 2024,” says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “The underlying strength of the economy is contributing to this increase in rates."