How is "interest" typically expressed in real estate financing?

In real estate financing, "interest" is typically expressed as a percentage of the loan amount. This percentage indicates the cost of borrowing money from a lender, and it is commonly referred to as the interest rate. The interest rate determines how much the borrower will pay in addition to the principal amount over the life of the loan.

By using a percentage, lenders can easily calculate the amount of interest due at any given point in time based on the outstanding loan balance. This method provides clarity and allows for consistent comparisons between different loans and financing options. The other options provided may relate to aspects of financing (such as the total cost of a property or monthly payments), but they do not specifically define how interest itself is expressed in this context.