Former Pro Baseball Player Signs On to RMS Mortgage Team

Mike Laga

EASTHAMPTON – Michael Laga of Florence, a former Major League baseball player who has worked in the Valley’s financial industry for over 15 years, has come on board at Residential Mortgage Services, Inc., as a mortgage banker.

Laga began work with RMS on Feb. 11 and focuses on residential mortgage lending. Previously, he worked for a credit union and said he is glad to have all the different types of mortgage options available to him now for borrowers.

“I think RMS is a very innovative company that’s working to create more opportunities for borrowers,” he said.

Laga grew up in New Jersey and was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 1980, after his high school graduation. He also played professional baseball for 13 years for the St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, Fukuoka Daiei Hawks in Japan and Atlanta Braves.

Active in the Mike Laga Youth Baseball Association, founded roughly 15 years ago in Northampton, Laga is involved with four youth baseball teams each summer. He also is a member of the Northampton Recreation Commission.

 Laga holds a bachelor’s degree in sport management from the University of Massachusetts and has worked for banks and mortgage companies for 16 years. Laga lives in Florence with his wife, Robyn, and has three children.

Brian Risler, branch manager for the mortgage company at 251 Northampton Street, Suite D, said RMS is a private mortgage bank based in Portland, Maine. Founded in 1991 by James Seely, it’s unique in that, “We’re all about understanding the needs of the real estate community.”

“We provide a simplified process for getting a mortgage,” Risler said, noting that RMS provides a wide selection of mortgage options to accommodate a broad range of unique situations. “We make the home-buying process accessible.”

RMS funded $532 million in Massachusetts home purchases in 2013; $961 million in total Massachusetts mortgages.

For more information, call Laga at (413) 282-3508.

Featured image courtesy of Tulane Public Relations via Flickr under Creative Commons.