Keep the House But Get the Cash

To get an estimate of how much you might get in a reverse mortgage, check out AARP's "Reverse Mortgage Calculator" at http://www.rmaarp.com/ . For more information, go to AARP's Web page on this topic at http://www.aarp.org/revmort , or call 1-800-209-8085 to order a free copy of "Home Made Money: A Consumer's Guide to Reverse Mortgages."

If this is something you would be interested in, I suggest you get a booklet created by the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association. It's called "Just the FAQs: Answers to Common Questions About Reverse Mortgages." It's free and covers all the basics and more about reverse mortgages. Call 1-866-264-4466 (toll-free). Or order it online at http://www.reversemortgage.org/ .

There's another feature of reverse mortgages I like. Borrowers have to get counseling from HUD-approved counselors prior to obtaining a loan. For information about a HUD-approved counseling agency, call 1-800-569-4287. In fact, HUD recently announced it was expanding its network of counselors.

Good thing because, as Bell pointed out, it's important to get all the facts on reverse mortgages and learn how one would affect your estate.

On the air: Michelle Singletary discusses personal finance Tuesdays on NPR's "Day to Day" program and online athttp://www.npr.org.

By mail: Readers can write to her at The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.

By e-mail:singletarym@washpost.com.

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