Soak time. The length of time you marinate food depends on both the food and the marinade. Delicate fish, shellfish, and fruit usually soak for a shorter period of time (from 20 minutes to a few hours), while meats can go longer (up to a day or two).
Having your taxes and insurance included in your mortgage payment is actually very convenient. Instead of having to pay an annual insurance premium and half of your annual taxes on April 30th and the second half on October 31st, the lender establishes an automatic savings plan for you.
You'll be required to carry private mortgage insurance if you don't have enough cash to make a 20% down payment on a home. It costs anywhere from 0.20% to 1.50% of the balance on your loan each year, based on your credit score, down payment and loan term. The annual cost is divided into 12 monthly premiums and added to your monthly mortgage payment. Mortgage insurance protects the lender, not you.