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 can often get the best mortgage rates by paying a higher mortgage down payment. Down payments can range anywhere from 0% to 20% or more of the total cost of the home. 15% to 20% is ideal. Paying mortgage points up front can also help lower your payments and interest.