VA lender Michigan Mutual in Southfield, MI, gives new meaning to “service above and beyond,” which makes it unique among its VA peers. Michigan Mutual, a national wholesale mortgage lender, ramps up its service to members of the military by having a representative conduct yearly outreach to American soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq. Every year, since 2009, Rick Roque, managing director at Michigan Mutual, has been volunteering to spend a few weeks conducting mortgage-related seminars for soldiers in U.S. bases in the two countries. During those seminars, Roque talks about the benefits of a VA-guaranteed mortgage loan for those thinking of purchasing a home after their deployment. “Soldiers in combat zones are constantly under severe stress and hardly have time to think about homeownership,” said Roque. “Their priority is survival and ...