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%.

Higher interest rates add to problems with affordability that have hammered the housing market for the last two years. Prices have continued to climb despite slower sales volume, posting 17

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.

Mortgage rates are likely to remain elevated through at least the first half of the year, keeping sales of previously owned homes subdued.