If you want to be sipping the best bourbon, there's only one competition you need to pay attention to.

More than 2,200 spirits were entered to be sipped and evaluated at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in April, and eight all-American bourbons rose to the top.

Fresh from their charred-oak barrels, these bottles were rated the best-of-the best by the competition's expert judges.

Most of the bourbons clock in below the $100 mark, but a few do demand a bit more. And they all, of course, hail from the US.

SEE ALSO: We went to the best bar in the world to find out what the drink of the summer will be — here's the verdict

David Nicholson Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Award: Best straight bourbon

Price: $33

Kings County Distillery Bottled-in-Bond Straight Bourbon

Award: Best small-batch bourbon in the Up to 5 Years category

Price: Unavailable

Barrell Batch 011 Cask-Strength Straight Bourbon

Awards: Best bourbon, best small-batch bourbon, best small-batch bourbon in the 6 to 10 Years category

Price: $85

The hardest part of going camping might be getting started. The upfront cost forces newbies to shell out for a tent, sleeping bags, and other gear. There are 13,000 public campsites in North America to choose from, and no definitive review site vetting them. It can be overwhelming.

Tentrr wants to take the hassle out of camping. Launched in 2016, the app lets users find and book upscale campsites on private land. When guests arrive, they find their hand-sewn canvas tent already set up, so their vacation starts that much sooner. The average nightly rate is $144.

We talked to investment banker turned startup founder Michael D'Agostino on why Tentrr could be the future of weekend getaways.

SEE ALSO: Luxury camping retreats complete with in-tent massages could be the future of weekend getaways

The mission of Tentrr is simple. "We want you to be able to run around naked and enjoy nature as you wanted to when you were a kid ... without scaring the neighbor," D'Agostino said.

Tentrr has put up campsites at 50 locations in New York state — with another 150 sites in the works. They sit on privately owned land, where guests can relax and recharge in peace.

Each rental comes fully equipped with a canvas tent on a large wooded platform, a queen-sized air mattress, two Adirondack chairs, a fire pit, cookware, and a portable toilet.

Few people have benefited from Facebook's incredible success more than WhatsApp cofounder Jan Koum.

With an estimated fortune of roughly $9.5 billion, 41-year-old Koum has come a long way from growing up without running water in Soviet-Era Ukraine to creating a messaging app used by 1.2 billion people.

Facebook purchased WhatsApp in 2014 for a jaw-dropping $19 billion, adding Koum to the company board and sending his net worth into the stratosphere.

Koum now leads a team of around 100 people working on WhatsApp, which is used heavily in developing countries like India and Brazil. And he sold over half of his shares in Facebook last year, totaling roughly $5 billion.

Here's how Koum got to where he is today:

SEE ALSO: The fabulous life of Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, one of the youngest billionaires in the world

Koum has an estimated net worth of roughly $9.5 billion. His fortune is made up almost entirely from Facebook stock, which he's been selling aggressively over the past year.

Source: Bloomberg, Forbes

But Koum wasn't always wealthy. He was born in Ukraine in 1976 into a household without running water.

Source: Forbes

Here's how he described life in his hometown outside Kiev: "It was so run-down that our school didn't even have an inside bathroom. Imagine the Ukrainian winter, -20°C, where little kids have to stroll across the parking lot to use the bathroom. Society was extremely closed off: you can read 1984, but living there was experiencing it."

Source: Wired

One of America's most expensive mega-mansions just got a major discount. 

According to the Wall Street Journal, Gemini, a 33-bedroom compound on a private barrier island in Manalapan, Florida, just got a $30 million price chop. That brings its listing price down to $165 million from $195 million. 

The 16-acre estate is the property of the billionaire family of deceased publisher William B. Ziff, Jr. Ziff passed away in 2006. He had developed a successful empire of tech-focused magazines, including titles like Car and Driver and PC Magazine. The family sold the publishing arm of Ziff-Davis for $1.4 billion in 1994.

The massive property is decked out with all of the perks that you'd expect for the astronomical price tag. It's bordered on both sides by private beaches and its own pier. On top of that, there's a golf course, pool, tennis court, and basketball court. 

Gemini is now listed with Todd Peter and Cristina Condon of Sotheby's International Realty. Let's take a look around.

Raisa Bruner contributed reporting to an earlier version of this article. 

SEE ALSO: Inside the 'paparazzi-proof' building where penthouses are selling for $55 million

Gemini spans the width of a barrier island in Manalapan, just south of Palm Beach. That means it has private waterfront access on both the ocean and river sides — not to mention plenty of green space.

The property includes a 12-bedroom main home, as well as a seven-bedroom guest house, two "ocean cottages," a manager's house and office, and a tree house. It makes for a grand total of 84,988 square feet of interior space.

A PGA-standard golf practice area means you never have to leave the private island to work on your drive. You'll also find a freshwater pond, bird sanctuary, and "sports complex" with tennis, basketball, mini golf, and playground setups. To top it off, there's a butterfly garden complete with model train, and a fully-furnished underground tunnel connecting different parts of the compound.

As we delve deeper into the summer-movie season, it seems like a good time to look back on the year so far in movies and highlight the most memorable ones. 

Box-office performance doesn't always dictate if a movie is good. Some of the titles below didn't make a huge killing at the multiplex, but there's a good chance that you'll be talking about them long after this year is over. And the early part of 2017 has had some surprising bright spots.

From studio giants like "The Fate of the Furious" and "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2," to indies including "Colossal" and "T2: Trainspotting," here are the 11 best movies of the year... so far:

SEE ALSO: 35 movies coming out this summer that you need to see

11. “Colossal”

Writer-director Nacho Vigalondo's unique mix of comedy, social commentary, and sci-fi is given its biggest exposure yet thanks to the casting of stars Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis for his latest movie. "Colossal" explores the dangers of alcoholism as Vigalondo puts Hathaway front and center playing a party girl who suddenly realizes she's controlling a giant that's destroying Seoul. Sudeikis is her old friend who is also her evil enabler. If you're seeking something different from a movie, this is it.

10. “T2: Trainspotting”

I know what you're thinking: Why the hell would anyone make a sequel to "Trainspotting"? But give this a chance if you haven't yet. Director Danny Boyle along with Ewan McGregor and the rest of the original cast from the landmark first movie deliver an impressive sequel that offers a new story but still celebrates the things we loved about the first one.

9. “The Lego Batman Movie”

Filled with the clever fun that made 2014's "The Lego Movie" a hit, this one has the added bonus of throwing in great Batman jokes as well. 

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Reading is a great way to acquire new information, come up with creative ideas, and learn worthwhile tips that can improve your personal and professional life, so it's no wonder some of the world's biggest business leaders are avid readers.

If the CEO of a Fortune 500 company or successful startup can pick up a book while spearheading projects, building new businesses, and managing an entire team, there's no excuse for any of us not to read. 

Some powerhouses like the classics, others enjoy reading inspirational career books, and one notable businessman even has a penchant for spy novels. See the titles Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and more call their favorites:

READ THIS: 11 books to read if you’re thinking about quitting your job

SEE ALSO: These are the 20 best-selling business books of 2016 so far

Jeff Bezos: "The Remains of the Day"

Business Insider previously reported that Amazon's CEO learns more from fiction than non-fiction, and this novel about a butler in post-war England is one of his favorites.

Buy it here >> 

Source: Business Insider

Bill Gates: "The Catcher in the Rye"

The Microsoft co-founder has loved J.D. Salinger's "classic tome since he was teenager. "I didn't actually read 'Catcher in the Rye' until I was 13, and ever since then I've said that's my favorite book," he told the Academy of Achievement. "It's very clever."

Buy it here >>

Source: Academy of Achievement

Steve Jobs: "The Innovator's Dilemma: The Revolutionary Book That Will Change the Way You Do Business"

"The Innovator's Dilemma" is a book that deeply influenced Steve Jobs, one of the world's most respected entrepreneurs, so it's well worth your time, too. One of the more controversial business books on the market, it's received rave reviews from the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Business Week.

Buy it here >>

Source: Harper Collins

Ever asked someone to borrow a red lobster when you're short on cash?

It's the Australian way to reference a $20 note, according to giffgaff money, which recently teamed up with British artist Paul Blow to illustrate some of the craziest slang used to describe coins, cash, notes, and money in different countries around the world.

Below, learn about eight everyday words that reference money, so you won't look so confused on your trip across the pond when someone asks if you have any squids to spare.

SEE ALSO: 12 quirky sayings people around the world use to describe their relationship with money

DON'T MISS: 9 common phrases from around the world that lose all meaning in English

Denmark

Denmark uses the krona and the Danish words for hundred and thousand notes are shortened from 'hundrede' to ‘hund’ (dog) and 'tusind' to ‘tudse’ (toad).

Spain

Although Spain has adopted the euro, "pasta" remains a popular term from their days using pesetas.

United Kingdom

Brits colloquially call pound coins squids or quid.

Where do people want to work these days?

That's the question that LinkedIn answers in its top companies of 2017 report.

Using data collected from the job site's more than 500 million members, LinkedIn ranked the 50 companies that people in the US most want to work for. It based its ranking on metrics like interest in a company's jobs, interest in a company's brand and employees, and employee retention. You can read more about their methodology here.

The companies that ended up faring the best spanned industries, from tech giants to banking institution to global media conglomerates.

Here are the top 25 companies on the list:

SEE ALSO: The 20 best places for new grads to launch their career

25. Capital One

Based in Tysons Corner, Virginia, Capital One is a bank holding company.

Number of global employees: 47,300

24. Adobe

Adobe is a software company based in San Jose, California.

Number of global employees: 16,500

23. Stryker

Stryker is a medical technology company that was founded in 1946.

Number of global workers: 33,000

Tesla is far from the only company looking to profit off of rechargeable batteries for the home.

At-home batteries are a necessary purchase for anyone looking to convert their home to solar power. The batteries store the electricity generated by solar panels, which can then be used at night or during peak grid times to save money on your electricity bill.

But the batteries can also be used to charge electric vehicles, which is why many automakers are now selling their own units.

Scroll down to see the 10 at-home batteries looking to take on Tesla's Powerwall 2:

SEE ALSO: Mercedes just made a huge play that could threaten Tesla's home-battery business

First, some information on Tesla's Powerwall 2 — a 264-pound, lithium-ion battery that you can mount on your wall. Panasonic makes the cells for the battery, while Tesla builds the battery module and pack.

A single Powerwall unit stores 14 kWh of energy, but you can link up to 10 batteries side-by-side to increase storage. A single unit, including installation, can cost as much as $11,450.

Tesla has offered battery and solar installations as one process ever since it acquired SolarCity last November. Tesla is now selling solar roof shingles that are designed to look like an actual roof to compete with rival solar installers, like Sunrun and Vivint, on an aesthetic level.

You can read more about Tesla's solar roof here.

Two weeks before graduating college and leaving for a months-long backpacking trip through Europe, Natasha Alden met someone.

And after two dates, they decided he would go with her.

More than three years later, Alden and Cameron Seagle are still traveling together. They've backpacked Europe, Southeast Asia, and now, they're spending a year driving across Africa.

In all, the 20-somethings have been to about 50 countries. You can follow their adventures through their site, The World Pursuit, and their Instagram.

Below, they told Business Insider how they saved up about $50,000 to fund their travels, why they're driving across a continent, and what it's like to travel the world together.

SEE ALSO: A 31-year-old who's been traveling the world for 5 years explains how she affords it

On that first post-graduation trip abroad, Alden and Seagle met in Norway and traveled together for two months, using money they'd saved from weekend and summer jobs throughout college.

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In Norway. 

Then, Seagle returned home to the US as Alden kept at it. After six months at home, he flew back out to meet her again in Southeast Asia.

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Backpacking through Bangkok, Thailand.

They spent two months together in Asia, then moved to New York City to fill their coffers for longer-term travel.

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At Storm King sculpture park in New York. 

Extreme weather can be deadly.

Traditionally, the UN's World Meteorological Organization (WMO) keeps track of extreme temperature and weather records. But on May 18, the WMO for the first time announced world records for the highest reported historical death tolls from tropical cyclones, tornadoes, lightning and hailstorms.

"Extreme weather causes serious destruction and major loss of life,"WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said in a press release. "The human aspect inherent in extreme events should never be lost."

The WMO is trying to strengthen early warning systems for extreme weather, especially as a growing world population and climate change threaten to make extreme weather events even more deadly, according to a report announcing these findings.

"These events highlight the deadly tragedies associated with different types of weather. Detailed knowledge of these historical extremes confirms our continuing responsibilities to not only forecast and monitor weather and climate but to utilize that information to save lives around the world so disasters of these types are lessened or even eliminated in the future," said Randall Cerveny, WMO Rapporteur on Climate and Weather Extremes.

These estimates could change if new information comes to light, but here are the events the report found to be the deadliest of various types of weather. 

SEE ALSO: A 22-year-old is moving ahead with a controversial plan to trap plastic floating in the great Pacific garbage patch

Deadliest hailstorm: Moradabad, India, on April 30, 1888, which killed 246 people.

Reportedly there were hailstones the size of "goose eggs and oranges and cricket balls." The WMO report cites an eyewitness who said that roofs collapsed and doors and windows were smashed by the ice. 

"Men caught in the open and without shelter were simply pounded to death by the hail. Fourteen bodies were found in the race-course. More than one marriage party were caught by the storm near the banks of the river, and were annihilated. The police report that 1,600 head of cattle, sheep, and goats were killed,” wrote John Eliot, the first director-general of the India Meteorological Department, according to the WMO report.

Deadliest lightning strike: Manical Tribal Trust Lands in Zimbabwe on December 23, 1975, which killed 21 people.

The report says that nearly 90% of sub-Saharan buildings are not lightning safe, often made of mud-brick with thatch or sheet metal roofs. 

Deadliest indirect lightning strike: Dronka, Egypt on November 2, 1994, when 469 people were killed by a lightning-caused oil fire.

In 1994, a flash of lightning caused a fire that ignited three oil tanks, each holding about 5,000 tons of aircraft or diesel fuel. The railway line holding the tanks collapsed in a flood and floodwaters carried the blazing fuel into Dronka. 

Your beliefs about money can play a huge role in whether or not you finish rich. 

So why not look to those who have been there, done that for inspiration? 

Business Insider rounded up quotations about money from self-made billionaires that will shift your perspective on business, investing, and success. 

From investor Warren Buffett to tech mogul Jeff Bezos, here's what some of the world's richest men and women have to say about money. 

SEE ALSO: 2 pieces of increasingly popular money advice could ruin your chance at getting rich, according to a self-made millionaire

DON'T MISS: Here's how much you should be investing by your 30s, according to former Wall Street executive Sallie Krawcheck

“My goal was never to just create a company. A lot of people misinterpret that, as if I don't care about revenue or profit or any of those things. But what not being just a company means to me is not being just that — building something that actually makes a really big change in the world.” —Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook

“When a small business grows like eBay did, it has a multiplier effect. It creates other small businesses that supply it with intellectual capital, goods and services.” —Meg Whitman, CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise

"I will tell you how to become rich. Close the doors. Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful."—Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway

There's a slew of long-range, electric cars slated to hit the market by 2020. 

A number of these EVs will be made by luxury automakers and will likely cost upwards of $50,000.

But there are also a number of automakers working on EVs with a range of 200 miles plus that will likely have a more friendly price tag. 

Here's a breakdown of the long-range, electric cars coming to market in the next few years that people will actually be able to afford. 

SEE ALSO: Ford’s first electric SUV could have an edge on Tesla's Model Y

Tesla's Model 3 is expected to go into production before the end of 2017.

The vehicle is slated to start pricing at $35,000. However, consumers will have to pay a couple thousand extra if they want Autopilot features to be activated. 

CEO Elon Musk has said the Model 3 will have a range of at least 215 miles per charge and will be spacious enough for five people. 

Tesla began taking reservations for the vehicle in April of 2016 and has about 400,000 pre-orders, according to the company. 

While the company plans to begin delivering some of the pre-orders by the end of 2017, the bulk of the orders will likely be delivered in 2018. So if you want your Model 3 before 2020, you better place your order now. 

Tesla also plans to launch its Model Y, a compact SUV, by 2020.

In early May, Musk said during the company's first-quarter earnings call that the Model Y will arrive by either late 2019 or 2020.  

Musk has kept mum on most other details pertaining to the upcoming vehicle, but he has said that it will be a compact SUV and that it will be built on a separate platform than the Model 3. 

Tesla has not shared a price range for its upcoming compact SUV. However, given it already sells a luxury SUV, the Model X, and that the company wants to target the mass market, it's likely the upcoming SUV will have a more competitive price tag. 

Also, considering General Motors already sells its all-electric SUV crossover, the Chevy Bolt, for $37,500 before tax incentives, it would make sense for Tesla to price the Model Y in the same ballpark. 

However, there's always the possibility that Tesla could make the Model Y a cheaper version of the Model X, similar to the BMW X3, which begins pricing at about $40,000. 

Volvo's first electric car is coming by 2019.

In April, Volvo said that it will build its first all-electric car in China and export it around the world. 

The vehicle is expected to have a 100 kWh battery and a range of 250 miles per charge. But perhaps the best thing about the upcoming vehicle will be its price tag. 

Lex Kerssemakers, CEO of Volvo Car USA, said in March that he was pushing for its first electric car to fall in the $40,000 range.

Jim Chanos just presented at the SkyBridge Alternative Conference (SALT), giving his short thesis for Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, a company that generates most of its revenue from one drug — Acthar.

At the same time, he slammed the company that exclusively distributes Acthar for Mallinckrodt, Express Scripts.

Express Scripts is a pharmacy benefit manager, which means it acts as the gatekeeper between drug companies and payers.

"This alliance may lead to performance enhancing drug prices," Chanos said, "but it could give investors the blues."

That is because the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid have noticed that Acthar is the most expensive drugs it pays for. Acthar was the only non-life saving drug on its list of the top 20 most expensive drugs of 2015.

As we've written before, Washington is circling around PBMs. Politicians on both sides of the aisle want to know more about the opaque way they control pricing and the way they help patients pay co-pays for expensive drugs. Express Scripts and Mallinckrodt have both told their shareholders that the Feds are looking into these programs. 

Raul Hernandez contributed to this story.

SEE ALSO: We dug into the drug company Martin Shkreli sold out to the feds, and man is it ugly

The big stars are in the South of France looking their most glamorous for this year's Cannes Film Festival and getting their photos shared across the world.

Following her eye-catching red dress at last year's Cannes, model Bella Hadid returned to the festival to grace the legendary red carpet. But fellow model Emily Ratajkowski also showed up and was turning everyone's head. Then there are the movie stars like Robin Wright, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Williams, and Uma Thurman.

But the person having the best time has to be festival jury member Will Smith. When he's not arguing about Netflix with jury president Pedro Almodóvar, he's having an incredible time walking the carpet and waving to the fans.

Here are photos of all the stars looking fabulous at this year's Cannes:

SEE ALSO: RANKED: The 11 best movies of the year so far

Here's Elle Fanning at the festival's opening night for the movie "Ismael's Ghosts." She stars in the anticipated Cannes title "The Beguiled."

"Ismael's Ghosts" stars Marion Cotillard.

Noamie Harris was also there. She's coming off her Oscar best supporting actress nomination for "Moonlight."

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Whether you're carrying a work laptop, lunch, or gym clothes, there's a good chance you won't be empty handed on your commute. 

If you're just starting out, it's a good idea to pick up an inexpensive laptop bag. It might not be made out of leather or suede, but it'll be a lot nicer than the backpack you used through college.

To make your shopping as easy as possible, we found seven stylish work bag for $150 or less. Have a look.

DON'T MISS: 

J.Crew

If your office's dress code skews more casual, this canvas bag will do the trick.

J.Crew Abingdon Briefcase, $118

Incase

Only bringing the basics to the office? This one from Incase is for you.

Incase Reform 13-Inch Briefcase, $89.95

Incase Reform 15-Inch Briefcase, $89.95

Fossil

When it comes to work bags, form and function aren't mutually exclusive. This option is spacious enough to hold all your essentials, and the buckle closure gives this bag a stylish touch.

Fossil Bag, $148

As every prospective homebuyer knows, there's a lot that goes into buying a new home beyond just its listing price. You have to ask yourself: Does this city have a strong education system? Is the neighborhood safe? How much will my property taxes be? Will my home become more valuable in the future when it's time to sell?

To help out those who are house hunting, GOBankingRates.com determined the best city to buy a home in every state, taking into account various factors, including school districts, property tax bills, home prices and incomes.

Whether you're looking to start a family or make money off investment property in the near future, check out our picks of the best places to live.

Methodology: In order to source list, GOBankingRates identified the three cities in each state with the best-ranked school districts, according to Niche. Then, GOBankingRates used the following factors to determine the best city in each state: 1) median property tax bill, sourced from the Tax Foundation; 2) median home listing price, sourced from Zillow; 3) median household income, 2010-2014 (in 2014 dollars) sourced from U.S. Census Bureau. Based on those three factors, the study selected the best city out of three cities for each state. States left out due to insufficient data include: Alaska, Montana and Hawaii.

SEE ALSO: The most expensive housing market in every state

DON'T MISS: 10 of the best American cities to live comfortably on $40,000 a year

Alabama: Madison

Median property tax bill: $763
Median home listing price: $228,775
Median household income: $92,965

Madison is located in the Huntsville Metro Area, which has been experiencing economic prosperity due to its growing research, technology and manufacturing industries, according to Sperling's Best Places. In fact, Alabama as a whole is the best state for your money in 2017, according to another GOBankingRates study.

The median home value in Madison is $196,500, which is about $74,000 higher than the median home value in Alabama. According to Zillow, home values are expected to continue increasing in the Madison area.

Arizona: Tucson

Median property tax bill: $1,701
Median home listing price: $179,000
Median household income: $37,149

The housing bubble hit Arizona particularly hard, but some housing markets have rebounded. Home prices in Tucson are affordable, especially compared to prices in Phoenix ($250,000) and Scottsdale ($564,000). Take note, however, that incomes in Tucson are low. But, if you can find a higher-paying job in this city, your paycheck will likely stretch further.

Arkansas: Jonesboro

Median property tax bill: $698
Median home listing price: $172,500
Median household income: $40,583

Jonesboro has a low median home listing price on top of relatively low property taxes. Memphis, Tenn., is actually located close to Jonesboro and boasts cheaper homes. However, homebuyers — especially families looking to settle in and start a new life — might be turned off by Memphis’ high crime rates.

Buying a house is no walk in the park.

It takes a lot of organization, careful thought, and, of course, money.

But if you're serious about becoming a homeowner, you need to get prepared for the road ahead.

To help out, Business Insider consulted Dana Bull, a realtor with Sotheby's International in Boston, and George Chedid, a realtor with Century 21 Barrood in Kendall Park, New Jersey, to put together a timeline of the homebuying process.

Below, check out the seven steps you'll take to buy a house, from teaming up with a realtor and finding out what you can afford to closing on the deal, and everything in between.

SEE ALSO: 7 pieces of homebuying advice you can't afford to ignore

DON'T MISS: Here's how big a home you can buy for $400,000 in the 25 biggest cities in America

Step 1: Build your team and determine your price point

A home is a huge purchase, so you'll want to make sure you're making as few mistakes as possible along the way. That means putting together a team of people you trust, including a real estate agent, lender, and lawyer, which is often the bank's attorney, says Bull.

Estimate what you can afford

You can do this yourself using a mortgage calculator on sites like Zillow or Trulia (just be sure to include property taxes and insurance in that estimate), or you can ask a lender to pre-qualify you for a loan.

The general rule of thumb is to spend less than 30% of your take-home pay on total monthly housing payments.

But figuring out how much you can realistically afford will come down to your debt-to-income ratio. Chedid recommends your monthly debts including your housing costs not equal more than 40% to 45% of your gross monthly income.

Step 2: Get pre-approved for a loan

In most cases if you plan to get a mortgage, you need a loan pre-approval in hand before you can start looking at houses — most realtors won't entertain shoppers who don't have one.

Bull calls it getting your "financing ducks in a row." While you may already have an idea of what you can afford, you'll need to find out how the bank sees you. A mortgage broker will assess your income, assets, and credit to determine your maximum loan amount.

Because a loan pre-approval holds more heft than a loan pre-qualification, it'll take more work to get one. It requires a number of documents from each applicant (so if you're married, both you and your spouse will need to provide these items):

• ID

• Pay stubs for one-month period

• Bank statements, both checking and savings, for two-month period

• Income tax returns for two-year period

• W2s for two-year period

During pre-approval, the lender will also do a hard inquiry of your credit, which will show up on your credit report.

Once you're pre-approved, you'll receive a conditional letter stating the amount you've been approved for.

If you're a first-time buyer and your parents are gifting you money, your lender will want a letter from them confirming that amount.

Crunch the numbers

Now you can find out how much house you can realistically afford given your loan amount. Don't forget to factor in taxes, insurance, closing costs, private mortgage insurance (PMI), and homeowner's association fees (if you expect to have them).

Pick your lender

It's worth noting that you don't have to go with the lender that offered you pre-approval. You can use your pre-approval to shop around for lenders who will offer you better rates.

"The rate is important, but so is the service and making sure you get to the closing table," says Bull.

Step 3: Shop for homes

Though your real estate agent should be your top resource, "do your homework," Bull says. Find out which neighborhoods you want to be in and check out a few open houses. The more you see, the more informed your decision will be when you finally pick the one.   

You'll need to stay on your toes while you're shopping. New homes come on the market every day, so it's imperative to stay on top of listings, whether that means signing up for online alerts or checking in with your realtor daily.

Bull also suggests making it a priority to see homes the day they hit the market, or the first available showing, and always being ready to sign an offer. You may even want to keep your lender "waiting in the wings," she says, so that you can get an updated pre-approval letter quickly.

A small island smack in the middle of the South Pacific has never been inhabited by people — and yet, its white sand beaches are home to more than 37 million pieces of junk.

Every day on Henderson Island — one of the most remote places on Earth — trash from every continent except Antarctica washes up its shores. Fishing nets and floats, water bottles, and plastics break into small particles against the rocks and sand.

In 2015, Jennifer Lavers, a researcher at the University of Tasmania, traveled to Henderson in an effort to document the extent of plastics pollution. Her research paper has since gone viral.

Lavers shared images from her trip with us. 

SEE ALSO: See how Treece, Kansas, went from mining boom town to toxic wasteland in 96 years

Jennifer Lavers first saw Henderson Island in Google Street View. She's been documenting islands-turned-junkyards for years. Henderson was the epitome of the phenomenon.

Few humans have set foot on the island, which lies halfway between New Zealand and South America, 71 miles away from the nearest settlement. To get there, Lavers joined a freight ship traveling from New Zealand and asked it to change course for Henderson.

When she arrived, it felt "a bit like being the first to land on the moon," Lavers told Business Insider. It became immediately clear that something on Henderson was awry.

The modern office seems like a relatively safe place — after all, you're probably not dangling out of a 44th-floor window with a squeegee.

In fact, on any given workday, you encounter a number of health threats — think repetitive strain injury from using a mouse and anxiety from dealing with a tyrannical boss.

Below, Business Insider has rounded up all the surprising ways in which your office job might be slowly destroying your health.

Consider it an opportunity to swap some of your current work habits for better ones that will keep you happy and healthy.

SEE ALSO:  The 16 highest-paying jobs for people who don't mind sitting at a desk all day

Sitting all day could shave years off your life

Sitting for lengthy periods is terrible for your body. Aches and pains are the least of your problems — sitting too much can lead to an early death. You face a higher risk of musculoskeletal disorders, obesity, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and more, even if you work out regularly.

Around 86% of American workers sit all day at work. If you're one of them, your best plan of action is simply to move around for a few minutes every hour.

As Business Insider's Erin Brodwin reported, one observational study found that participants who moved around for about two minutes every hour had about a 33% lower risk of dying three years later than those who sat the whole time.

Regularly slouching in your chair can lead to back pain and headaches

Take a look at your posture right now: Are you slouching — or sitting up nice and straight?

According to the Mayo Clinic, "when you slouch or stoop, your muscles and ligaments strain to keep you balanced — which can lead to back pain, headaches and other problems." Yikes.

Business Insider's Brodwin shared the best way to develop better posture at your desk, based on tips from the Cleveland Clinic:

"First, sit at the end of your chair (that's right, don't rely on your backrest). Let your body go into a slouching position.

"Now, try to sit up straight, accentuating the curve of your back as much as possible. Hold this position for a few seconds.

"Next, release the position a little bit — Cleveland specifies that you shouldn't move more than about 10 degrees. This should be your sitting position!"

Using a treadmill desk may increase your chances of physically hurting yourself

A treadmill desk may help with the risk of obesity and heart disease — and at least for a while, they were pretty trendy. But a 2013 Wall Street Journal article reported the higher incidence of falls among those using treadmill desks and stability balls.

Besides, using a treadmill desk might not even make you more productive. 2015 research suggests that, at least when you first start using one, your cognitive performance may suffer, and you're more likely to make typos.