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.
Mortgage lenders require you to have homeowners insurance as long as you have a mortgage against your townhouse. If you do not provide insurance or you let your homeowner's insurance lapse, the financial institution that holds your mortgage will likely be able to order insurance for you and have you charged for it.