To say Qualys CEO Philippe Courtot knows how to make money from starting tech companies is an understatement.

He's a multimillionaire after selling three companies and taking two others public.

His latest success is Qualys, which went public in September.

His first was cc:Mail, an early email program. When he took the CEO job, the company had $2,000 in the bank, he told Business Insider.

He sold it to Lotus in 1991 for $55 million. He sold his next company, Signio, to VeriSign for $1.3 billion. Including his angel investments, he's helped build some 10 startups in his three decades in the Valley.

With all the money he's made, he says he had to deliberately choose not to become too rich.

"I'm not a billionaire and I never really wanted to be one," he said. "I could have been. But then you become too visible and then you lose your life."

"I'm not saying being a billionaire is bad," he laughed. It's just that he'd rather be "more anonymous."

So how did he deliberately avoid becoming a billionaire? By giving away large stakes of his companies to early employees, he says.

"One of the thing I've done is shared the wealth. Some founders, for good or bad reasons, try to keep more of the shares for themselves. Yes, my goal was to make money, but I didn't want the burden of making too much money."

SEE ALSO: 30 Tech Skills That Will Instantly Net You A $100,000+ Salary

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On Friday night, Mrs. Obama joined Mr. Fallon – both were dressed as suburban moms – for a dance routine called the “Evolution of Mom Dancing” – a take-off on Judson Laipply’s wildly popular video “Evolution of Dance” (more than 200 million views so far).

Steps included "Go Shopping, Get Groceries", "Driving the Station Wagon”, "Oh My God, I Love This Song", and “Where’s Your Father (Get Him Back Here).”

Michelle Obama: 10 quotes on her birthday

Social media and the blogosphere went nuts. “The first lady demonstrated an uncanny ability to make the lamest dance moves look cool,” wrote Daniel Politi on Slate.

One tries to imagine Mamie Eisenhower or Pat Nixon doing "The Sprinkler." Bette Ford or Hillary Clinton (before she became a US Senator and Secretary of State) maybe, but probably not either of the Bush first ladies.

Fallon suggested a Michelle-Hillary ticket for president in 2016. But the first lady said she had her eye on another post-White House job. “I hear that when Jay Leno retires that 'The Tonight Show' position is going to open and I'm thinking about putting my hat in the ring," she joked.

The President’s dancing skills inevitably came up.

"How about Barack, is he a good dancer?" Fallon asked.

"You know, I give him a B," Mrs. Obama said, tactfully. "His dancing is right here in the pocket. He's got like three good moves. But they're all right here," she said while dancing with her hands by her hips. 

Dancing with Fallon is part of an effort to promote Mrs. Obama’s "Let's Move" anti-childhood obesity campaign, which marked its third anniversary this month.

Besides the appearance on "Late Night," Mrs. Obama discussed the initiative while in New York City during segments taped for broadcast Tuesday on ABC's "Good Morning America" and Thursday on "The Dr. Oz Show," the Associated Press reports. Next Wednesday, Mrs. Obama embarks on a two-day promotional tour, with stops in Clinton, Miss.; Chicago; and Springfield, Mo.

For the second anniversary of "Let's Move," she and Fallon turned the East Room of the White House into a playground. They did pushups, twirled hula hoops, and competed at dodge ball and tug-of-war before the first lady triumphed over the comedian in a climactic potato sack race.

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Want to help the ailing Greek economy? Buy an island!

Private Islands Online has the listings for some of the most gorgeous pieces of paradise floating in the Mediterranean.

It goes without saying that owning and maintaining an island is much more complicated than owning and maintaining a house.

But once you get by the logistics, you will be rewarded with unparalleled views and an unbelievable amount of privacy.

The following nine island go for between $1.5 million to $186 million.

Thanks to Private Islands Online for letting us feature some of their photos.

St. Athanasios is a cozy 2.5 acres of mostly palm and olive trees. It's located in the Iteas bay in the Gulf of Corinth.

Source: PrivateIslandsOnline.com

St. Athanasios can be yours for just $1.9 million dollars.

Source: PrivateIslandsOnline.com

Modi is a 51-acre gem. It's part of the Echinades chain, west of the Gulf of Corinth.

Source: PrivateIslandsOnline.com

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Workers finished building 18 these underground forts around Bucharest in the early 1900s, just in time for technology to render them totally obsolete.

Romania was pumped about its newly gained independence about 30 years earlier, in 1878 and determined to defend its capital. These forts lined strategic points in a circle around the city and key supply routes.

Darmon Richter shot these photos of the now abandoned structures for his urban exploration site The Behemian Blog.

Some house stray dogs, some ammunition, some only 100 year-old memories. Others, like the prison, house inmates. (Descriptions written by Darmon Richter.)

The Leordeni Fort is located to the southeast of Bucharest, and is one of a string of 18 fortresses which were built around the city in the late nineteenth century. The entrance to this fort is hidden amongst the ruins of a more recent military installation.

The fort is mostly subterranean, with a large entrance dug out on the north side. The southern, defensive side features narrow windows, and a row of view ports set in a grassy bank.

Entering the main corridor of the Leordeni Fort.

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Hedge fund legend Michael Steinhardt is selling his private collection of Jewish ceremonial art at auction on April 29th, says WSJ. The collection is valued at around $11 million and will be sold at Sotheby's.

Steinhardt, a Wharton grad, is known for amazing returns and pioneering the idea that down days in the market are no excuse for poor performance.

He told the WSJ that he's felt strong ties with this art because of his Jewish identity, even though he's atheist, and that he's selling because his kids and grandkids have no interest in continuing the collection.

From WSJ:

Sometimes I would say to myself—and mean it—'I'd like to die broke.' Meaning that I don't have any particular desire to leave all sorts of things when I'm gone. I've a desire to leave things to my loved ones, but my kids and grandchildren have at the moment zero interest in my collecting, so it wouldn't be for them. The idea that...you died having consumed or spent or given away most of the assets that you had—I find that an appealing concept, albeit unrealistic.

Steinhardt's wife wants him to keep some of the pieces, so he's probably right about that last point.

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Today, Union Square is one of the busiest places in New York City, filled with big box retailers, restaurants, and NYU dormitories.

But almost 200 years ago, it was still rural, far north of what was then the center of the city in lower Manhattan.

The painting below depicts Union Square in 1828, according to the book Painting the Town by The Museum of the City of New York (via Ephemeral New York).

According to the book, the scene was painted from memory by Albertis Del Orient Browere in 1885, and gives a glimpse of what life was like at the intersection of Broadway and the Bowery before development began.

It would still be another 20 years from the time depicted in the painting before the area started to transform into the bustling city center we know today.

In 1828, Union Place would have been considered "Uptown" for many New Yorkers, and was a burial ground for indigent people. The painting by Browere, though from memory, shows why wealthier residents would have been attracted to purchasing land in these pastoral surroundings, thus sparking the Northern migration in NYC.

DON'T MISS: Here Is What Brooklyn Was Like In The Summer Of 1974

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Tokyo eatery Narisawa has been declared the best restaurant in Asia by Restaurant magazine, which organizes one of the most prestigious restaurant rankings out there — The World's 50 Best.

Narisawa, which last year placed #27 in the world, is renowned for its creative use of Japanese ingredients in French cuisine.

Chef Yoshihiro Narisawa helms his eponymous restaurant and keeps diners guessing with his nature-centric dishes and unexpected presentation, from courses served in test tubes to butter that looks like moss.

If you make it there, take note: the standout dish is a wagyu rump roast marinated in leek, basted in olive oil and carbonized on the outside.

The Asia restaurant list is an offshoot of The World's 50 Best, an annual rundown from over 900 international restaurant industry experts including chefs, critics, and insiders. It's sponsored by Pellegrino and Acqua Panna.

Below are the top 10 restaurants in Asia. Click here to see the 50 best, according to Restaurant magazine.

1. Narisawa, Tokyo

2. Nihonryori Ryugin, Tokyo

3. Nahm, Bangkok

4. Amber, Hong Kong

5. Restaurant Andre, Singapore

6. 8 1/2 Otto E Mezzo Bombana, Hong Kong

7. Mr & Mrs Bund, Shanghai

8. Ultra Violet, Shanghai

9. Iggy's, Singapore

10. Gaggan, Bangkok

DON'T MISS: I Just Ate At The Most Amazing Restaurant In The World

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The horse meat scandal continues. 

Inspectors say they've found Ikea Swedish meatballs contaminated with horse meat in the Czech Republic.

The Czech State Veterinary Administration has confirmed on its website that the meatballs, which were made in Sweden, had horse DNA.

Now, they've suspended all shipments of the meatballs.

All meatballs sold in American Ikea locations are sourced from a supplier in the U.S., according to Ikea.

The furniture chain joins Burger King, Nestle, and Tesco as another big brand that has been affected by the horse meat issue.

Here's a statement from Ikea — from the L.A. Times:

"Customer confidence is of the utmost importance to Ikea. Ikea is committed to serving and selling high quality food that is safe, healthy and produced with care for the environment and the people who produce it. We do not tolerate any other ingredients than the ones stipulated in our recipes or specifications, secured through set standards, certifications and product analysis by accredited laboratories."

SEE ALSO: 7 Real Horse Meat Dishes From Around The World >

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In airline travel, the phrase "free upgrade" is something we often hear about, but few of us are ever lucky enough to actually see.

Not so for John De Langhe, who was recently traveling economy on an Emirates A380 flight, returning from Ho Chi Minh city in Vietnam to Amsterdam with a layover in Dubai. As the flight was overbooked, John and his girlfriend were moved up to business class free of charge.

"The upgrade came as a complete surprise since we were going through the checkpoint at the gate," John told us in an email. "It was only there that during the ticket scan, the machine started bleeping, so we thought the worst and thought there was something wrong with our tickets, but on the contrary, the ground crew smiled and announced we were upgraded to Business Class."

John uploaded his photos to Reddit over the weekend, and was kind enough to allow Business Insider to republish them with his captions.

It's a great glimpse into what John describes as the best flight of his life.

"Best seat ever."

"Girlfriend getting comfy."

"Me, smiling like some schoolgirl."

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This is part of our series on the Sexiest Scientists Alive.

It's surprising that some people who made our sexiest scientists list still haven't been snapped up.  

These men and women make the perfect marriage material: intelligent, ambitious, successful, and they have the looks to boot. 

For clarity, we define bachelors and bachelorettes as anyone who is not yet married.  

#42 Physician-scientist Daniel Kraft

Age: 45

Position: Executive director of the FutureMed program; Faculty chair of medicine at Singularity University; Founder & CEO of IntelliMedicine

Nationality: American

Fun Fact: Kraft has served as a Flight Surgeon and Officer in the Air National Guard with over 100 flying hours in F-15s and F-16s, and was a finalist for NASA-Astronaut Selection.

Kraft, a physician-scientist, explores ways to use developing technology, including new tools, tests, and apps, to improve health and medicine.

He invented a device called the Marrow Miner that quickly harvests bone marrow with less pain for the donor. This makes bone marrow transplants, which treat diseases like leukemia and lymphoma, easier, quicker and less painful for the organ donor, lessening the hurdles to donate.

His other research focuses on stem cells, which could pave the way to regenerative and anti-aging medical applications. He's also worked on heal care statistics and data flow optimization.

#38 Associate physics professor Martin Hanczyc

Age: 42

Position: Associate Professor in the Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Pharmacy 

Institution: University of Southern Denmark

Nationality: American

Fun Fact: He's the founder of a vintage bicycle club chapter. He also speaks Italian and Danish.

To demonstrate how early life may have formed on Earth, Hanczyc makes chemical droplets, called "protocells," that behave like living cells. Specifically they behave like the first pre-life chemical compositions — stripped down versions of cell containing only the most fundamental chemicals of a cell.

In these droplets he can simulate how the chemical precursors to life became the cells we know today.

#40 Researcher Rachel Armstrong

Age: 44

Position: Co-Director in the School of Architecture & Construction 

Institution: University of Greenwich

Nationality: British

Fun Fact: She enjoys writing science fiction.

Armstrong uses artificial cells that have life-like qualities (but are not fully alive) to create sustainable construction materials that can (hopefully) repair themselves after a crack, bend, or break.

She thinks this type of technology could be used to prevent Venice from sinking. And, these semi-living materials would also take up carbon dioxide (a potent greenhouse gas that drives climate change) from the atmosphere.

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It's hard to make microbes, telescopes, and math calculations appear sexy. But we found 50 scientists who pull it off fabulously. 

These aren't your typical lab coat-wearing, messy-haired brainiacs — with the exception that they're all pretty brain-y.  

Some of the people who made our list are rising stars. Others are already well-established in their field. All of them are making a difference (or on their way to) by improving our lives through research and new discoveries.

We thought this was important, to highlight the brains along with the beauty. But, they're not bad to look at, either. 

#50 Cheska Burleson

Age: 27

Position: Marine researcher

Institution: Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute 

Education: Ph.D. in chemical oceanography from the University of South Florida; B.S. in marine and freshwater biology from The University of Texas at Austin

Nationality: American

Burleson identifies and analyzes toxins created by the "red tide" phenomena — an algal bloom that looks red or brown and can make oysters and shellfish toxic to eat. It also poisons and kills fish.

She's also investigating potential drugs that can be made from algae to treat human pathogens, including Staph infections and malaria. 

Fun fact: She figure skated competitively for 10 years and enjoys eating painfully spicy food.

#49 Heather Christofk

Age: 32

Position: Assistant professor

Institution: University of California, Los Angeles

Education: Ph.D. in cell and developmental biology from Harvard; B.S. in molecular, cell, and developmental biology from UCLA

Nationality: American

Christofk studies the genes and proteins behind the way cancer cells use sugars to live and grow, which is different from how normal cells do. Cancer cells use much more sugar than normal cells, and they do it by changing the way they use these energy sources from the environment.

These insights can give us knowledge that can help fight cancers by helping us design drugs that attack the cancer's "sugar tooth" through these growth pathways. The theory is that if the cells were cut off from sugar, they couldn't grow as fast.

Fun fact: She's a huge college basketball and Boson Bruins fan. 

#48 Paul Zak

Age: 51

Position: Professor of economics and department chair and founding director of the Center for Neuroeconomics Studies

Institution: Claremont Graduate University

Education: Ph.D in economics from the University of Pennsylvania; B.A. in mathematics and economics from San Diego State University. (He was first in his class!)

Nationality: American

Zak, a neuroscientist and economist, is best known for his research on the hormone oxytocin. Called the "moral molecule," he believes oxytocin is responsible for virtuous human qualities like empathy, generosity, and trust. Hugs and even social networking can trigger the release of oxytocin in the brain, according to Zak. This knowledge can be used to design high-performance teams for business or the military, reduce conflict, and improve the lives of patients with neurologic and psychiatric disorders.

Zak explores oxytocin in his book The Moral Molecule: The Source of Love and Prosperity, published in 2012. 

Fun fact: He recently started skydiving. 

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Hammacher Schlemmer has some really amazing toys and products, but The Dogbrella is the most ridiculous one we've come across yet.

First seen on The Fancy, this inverted umbrella is for leash-trained dogs up to 15 pounds and "forms a waterproof cocoon around a small dog, enabling canine and master to maintain a walking regimen in inclement weather," according to the product description.

And in case you were wondering how you would keep your dog under the umbrella, don't worry: The $30 Dogbrella hooks to your dog's leash or collar.

Where To Buy: Available through Hammacher Schlemmer.

Cost: $29.95.

Want to nominate a cool product for Stuff We Love? Send an email to Megan Willett at mwillett@businessinsider.com with "Stuff We Love" in the subject line.

SEE ALSO: The 10 Most Outrageous Luxury Toys You Can Buy From Hammacher Schlemmer

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These buildings were the headquarters of Sears, Roebuck and Co., America's greatest retailer for seven decades.

Sears tested its products and printed the famous catalog in the complex just outside Chicago.

But in 1974, the company moved to the Sears Tower and these buildings were left deserted for 30 years. In that time, Sears went from being on top of the world to being one of the most distressed American brands. 

While developers used some of the site to build the Homan Square area in Chicago, some buildings still remained empty and are considered historical landmarks. 

Local photographer Martin Gonzalez took eerie photographs from inside the old headquarters. Despite the decay, many signs of the office life remain. 

The old Sears towers are just outside Chicago.

Source: Martin Gonzalez 

The grounds are unkempt and deserted.

Source: Martin Gonzalez 

The complex is located on Homan Avenue just outside Chicago.

Source: Martin Gonzalez

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If one thing is made clear by the latest Census report on the geographic concentration of high-income households, it's this:

Wealthy people love living on the water's edge.

The report, which is based on data from the American Community Survey (2007-2011), zeroed in on not only which metro areas are home to the biggest bank accounts, but where these well-heeled residents are the most concentrated. Coastal towns were by far the most popular, including long-time favorites like California and Florida. 

With the final ranking in hand, we decided to dig a bit deeper. By breaking down each metro area in the report's top wealthiest metropolitan areas by income tax rates, household income, and home value, we sought to explain not only where the wealthy live, but why.

These are the biggest metro areas with the highest concentration of wealthy residents. 

Tax rates are noted as percentages of income and were compiled from Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy data. Average household income data was provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Average home price data was compiled from Census data and Zillow.

21. Philadelphia

6.9 percent of households are in the top 5 percent of earners. 

Average household income: $61,496

State tax rate for wealthiest 1 percent: 4.4 percent (Pennsylvania); 7 percent (New Jersey)

State tax rate for next 4 percent: 6.8 percent (Pennsylvania); 8.8 percent (New Jersey)

Average cost ofsingle-family home: $214,900

Well-known wealthy inhabitants: Mary Alice Torrance Mallone, Brian Roberts

Extra: Philly Mag recently published an exclusive feature called "Confessions of the One Percent." It was billed as a chance for the city's richest to anonymously spill their secrets about life at the top of the economic food chain.

20. Honolulu

7 percent of households are in the top 5 percent of earners. 

Average household income: $71,263

Hawaii tax rate for wealthiest 1 percent: 8 percent

Hawaii tax rate for next 4 percent: 7.5 percent

Average single-family home cost: $607,600

Well-known wealthy residents: Pierre Omidyar

Extra: Although they aren't residents of The Aloha State, many people on America's rich list have oceanfront vacation homes in Hawaii, including Michael Dell and Charles Schwab.

19. Seattle

7.1  percent of households are in the top 5 percent of earners. 

Average household income: $67,023

Washington tax rate for wealthiest 1 percent: 2.8 percent

Washington tax rate for next 4 percent: 4.7 percent

Average single-family home cost: $295,700

Well-known wealthy inhabitants: Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos

Extra: Washington's tax rates are known for being the friendliest to the wealthy. The state doesn't have a tax on income and has low business taxes as well.

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Bottle service is a staple of the New York nightlife scene, and a lucrative business for clubs.

But Mayor Michael Bloomberg's large-soda ban could affect the models-and-bottles lifestyle as we know it.

Not only will sugary sodas that are often served as mixers be banned from the tables, but cranberry juice will be too, according to The New York Post. Only water and 100 percent juice will be unlimited, and going against the ban could cost a club $200 per violation.

There's no word yet on how NYC's nightclubs will supplement their mixers, but given that cans of Red Bull are already available at certain bottle service tables, perhaps the carafes of soda will be replaced by cans.

Or clubs will simply turn to diet soda, which is not restricted under the ban. The Post says fruit smoothies with no added sweetener and coffee drinks or milkshakes made with 50 percent milk are safe as well.

Of course, that does little to appease the city's wider worries over the Bloomberg ban. Among the main complaints: that Domino's will no longer sell its 20 ounce sodas, and there will be no more pitchers of sugary drinks at restaurants or bowling alleys.

SEE ALSO: Take A Peek Inside The Highest Earning Nightclubs In New York City

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Brandon Stanton, the street photographer behind "Humans of New York," has a beef with DKNY.

He claims that the company is using his photos without his permission.

"Several months ago, I was approached by a representative of DKNY who asked to purchase 300 of my photos to hang in their store windows 'around the world,'"explained Stanton in a Facebook post.

He said that DKNY offered him $15,000 for the photos, but when he asked for a higher fee, he was rebuffed. 

"Today, a fan sent me a photo from a DKNY store in Bangkok," he continued. "The window is full of my photos. These photos were used without my knowledge, and without compensation."

He wants DKNY to donate $100,000 on his behalf to the YMCA in Bed-Stuy.

DKNY has posted a response to Stanton's accusations. It says that the store in Bangkok made a mistake and used an internal mockup that had used Stanton's photos.

Here's the full statement from DKNY, which it posted on its Facebook page:

Since its founding in 1989, DKNY has been inspired by and incorporated authentic New York into its imagery. For our Spring 2013 store window visuals we decided to celebrate the city that is in our name by showcasing "Only in NYC" images. We have immense respect for Brandon Stanton aka Humans of New York and approached him to work with us on this visual program. He declined to participate in the project. 

For the Spring 2013 windows program, we licensed and paid for photos from established photography service providers. However, it appears that inadvertently the store in Bangkok used an internal mock up containing some of Mr. Stanton's images that was intended to merely show the direction of the spring visual program. We apologize for this error and are working to ensure that only the approved artwork is used. 

DKNY has always supported the arts and we deeply regret this mistake. Accordingly, we are making a charitable donation of $25,000 to the YMCA in Bedford-Stuyvesant Brooklyn in Mr. Stanton's name.

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Over the past few decades, Hong Kong has become one of the world's most important cities and a global financial hub.

However, increased prosperity hasn't trickled down to everyone. According to the Gini co-efficiency, which measures inequality, Hong Kong is the least equal city in the developed world.

Local advocacy group Society for Community Organization says that hundreds of thousands of people are still living in caged homes and wood-partitioned cubicles. What's worse, the number of people living this way appears to be increasing, as economic migrants arrive in the city from mainland China.

To highlight the struggle, SoCO took shots of the homes to show just how tight these living quarters are.

The apartments were so small that they had to be photographed from the ceiling to capture them.

Hong Kong has a shortage of public housing, meaning many on the lower end of the economy must pay market rates.

In a city so densely populated, rents are extraordinarily high.

$80–90HKD ($10.3–11.5USD) per square foot per month is common.

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The French Laundry — Chef Thomas Keller's iconic Napa Valley restaurant — is no stranger to accolades. It has topped Restaurant magazine's annual list of the world's best restaurants, and Anthony Bourdain has called it "the best restaurant in the world, period."

Now The Daily Meal has named it the best restaurant in America for 2013.

What makes the restaurant so great? It's a combination of a stunning location, stellar service, and outstanding food. The chefs create two unique nine-course tasting menus every day, and make sure no ingredients are repeated throughout the meal.

Arnold Inuyaki, who writes the blog Inuyaki — 'Surprisingly Good,' ate at The French Laundry and met chef Thomas Keller in December 2009. He shared pictures from the incredible five-hour+ meal with Business Insider.

Back then, the price-fixe menu cost $240 per person; today it's $270. Add in wine, and the cost jumps significantly. But if you are going to splurge on a once-in-a-lifetime meal, this should be it.

The French Laundry is located in Yountville, California, in the Napa Valley wine country.

Source: The French Laundry

It's surrounded by gardens and greenery, and you enter through this pretty blue door.

Source: The French Laundry

Special clothespins hold the napkins together. Great marketing!

Source: The French Laundry

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As you shop for a house and consider taking out a mortgage, determining your house payment can no doubt be a time-consuming process -- running calculations, getting updated payment scenarios from your mortgage company, and determining whether or not you can qualify.

What you might not realize is that there's an easier way to calculate a house payment using simple math.

Being able to quickly assess the house payment is crucial for key decision-making.

First, though, here are some terms you need to understand in order to do the calculations:

House Payment or PITI

Principal -- The principal balance being paid down over time as the result of an amortizing mortgage such as a 30-year fixed rate.

Interest -- The amount of the payment that goes toward interest on a monthly basis during the loan repayment.

Taxes -- The monthly property taxes built into the house payment, often termed an impound or escrow account.

Insurance -- The amount of the mortgage payment going toward hazard/fire insurance collected by the lender each month.

DTI -- Debt to Income Ratio The percentage of your total monthly debt against your monthly income, expressed as a percentage for qualifying. (PITI + monthly liabilities) ÷ monthly income.

The Basic House Payment Calculation Most Lenders Won't Share

For every $100,000 borrowed, expect a monthly mortgage payment of $725 per month. This $725 per month represents a full house payment comprised of principal, interest, property taxes and fire insurance.

• Borrowing $100,000? PITI will be approximately $725 per month
• Borrowing $200,000? PITI will be approximately $1,450 per month
• Borrowing $300,000? PITI will be approximately $2,175 per month
• Borrowing $400,000? PITI will be approximately $2,900 per month
• Borrowing $500,000? PITI will be approximately $3,625 per month

Most lenders will want the payment you are taking on to be no more than 45% of your total monthly liabilities including a proposed house payment. (*This does vary from program to program, but the general consensus is a 45% debt to income ratio.)

As an example, let's say you want buy a home for $350,000. You want to know whether or not the payment is affordable and whether or not you'll meet your lender's debt ratio thresholds. As we know, a house for $350,000 using half of the $725 per month in PITI generates a monthly payment of approximately $2,537.50 per month.

Assuming no other monthly debts, using a 45% debt to income ratio, you'll need $5,638 per month in income to offset the house payment in order to qualify. [Related Article: 19 Confusing Mortgage Terms Deciphered]

How Monthly Liabilities Apply

Using the above example, let's say you're trying to weigh how much house payment you can afford with other monthly obligations: A car lease payment for $300 per month and $80 per month in credit card payments.

Assuming our example income of $5,638 per month, in order to purchase that same house for $350,000, the monthly income would have to be $6482 per month adjusting for total monthly liabilities (determined house payment + other debts) ÷ monthly income. The other choice is to reduce the purchase price to $300,000, with effectively $380 per month in other debts, which influences borrowing power by $50,000.

*Mortgage Tip: take 45% of your monthly income less monthly liabilities. This is the maximum house payment you can qualify for, then simply equate what the monthly payment is relative to how much you can borrow based upon using $725 per month for every $100,000.

Other Factors

• Monthly mortgage insurance affects your house payment. With a less than 20% down payment, the borrower will typically have to pay monthly mortgage insurance to offset the risk of defaulting on the mortgage.

• Down payment/equity if any, will positively influence your borrowing power.

• Meeting the lender's minimum credit score required for financing, as most lenders require at least a credit score of 620. If you don't meet the minimum, you may have to get to work on building your credit score, and wait until you meet or exceed the minimum requirements before you apply for a home loan.

• Assets/reserves -- Generally, you'll need at least two months of PITI saved in the bank to meet the reserve requirement.

Related Links:

The First Thing to Do Before Buying a Home

How a Mortgage Can Affect Your Credit 

Can You Really Get Your Credit Score for Free?

SEE ALSO: 10 states where the most people live on the edge of financial ruin >

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Eyeglass company Warby Parker is on fire. 

The company is expanding all over the U.S. and taking on Luxottica, the behemoth that currently controls much of the world's eyewear. 

Now, Warby Parker has gained a very powerful ally: J. Crew CEO and "merchant prince" Mickey Drexler, Michael J. De La Merced at DealBook reported.

He has invested in the company and has been giving its founders advice on expanding into retail. 

Drexler is the ultimate retail endorsement because he's credited with changing how America dresses. He turned Gap into a global brand and also turned around business at J. Crew. 

“He was excited about some of the exciting retail stuff we were doing,” Warby co-founder Neil Blumenthal told DealBook. “When it was time to raise money, we wanted to get him formally involved.”

The fact that Drexler is invested in the company bodes well for Warby. He's been referred to as "the man who dressed America" and his business sense of notoriously keen. 

His endorsement means that Warby Parker has serious potential as a global brand. 

The company is also rumored to be working with Google to make its high-tech glasses more aesthetically pleasing. 

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