By Josiah Kowles
At REaKTOR, we love watching our portfolio companies turn real-world problems into powerful solutions, and VroomBrick is doing exactly that.
This veteran-owned real estate technology platform is reshaping home buying and selling across Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina. Founded by Navy veteran Leland Remias (Co-Founder & CEO) and Justin Richardson (COO), both former Sotheby’s agents,
VroomBrick was born from the frustration of frequent military moves that drained families of hard-earned equity through traditional 3% commissions. Together with Adam Becerra (Head of Product) and Army veteran Tim Piatt (Head of Partnerships), they built a smarter alternative: a platform that connects buyers and sellers with independent licensed closing attorneys, showing agents, and lenders for a flat 1% technology fee. For example, a typical commission on a $500,000 home would be $15,000, compared to VroomBrick’s technology fee of $5,000. VroomBrick is not a brokerage, it provides a clear dashboard guiding the full transaction while keeping the licensed professional users already need.
“Frequent moves through the military mean disproportionate fees. I kept thinking there had to be a better way to do this.” — Leland Remias, Co-Founder and CEO
But their newest and most exciting initiative is helping renters actually get into homes in the first place.
VroomBrick recently launched Claim the Key, a completely free homeowner-readiness tool designed for Hampton Roads renters. In under two minutes with no credit pull, users answer a short set of questions and receive a personalized Key Score, a tailored action plan with exact next steps for their timeline, matches for grants and down-payment assistance programs they may qualify for, and scheduled check-ins to keep them moving forward.
What makes Claim the Key so powerful is that it creates a realistic, visible roadmap to homeownership. It shows renters exactly where they stand today and lays out a practical path forward, cutting through the uncertainty and doubt that keeps so many families on the sidelines. With the median age of first-time homebuyers at record highs and first-time buyer market share at historic lows, this tool directly tackles the barriers facing local renters. Built with the 757 in mind and connected to regional credit unions, Claim the Key meets people where they are and gives them clear, actionable hope.
When VroomBrick first joined the REaKTOR portfolio, we helped them with early support and key introductions that opened doors to the
757 Accelerate 2025 cohort,
Lighthouse Network, formerly known as Lighthouse Labs, and the
CAFE accelerator focused on financial equity. This is exactly the kind of hands-on guidance REaKTOR exists to provide, acting as an early point of entry for founders and connecting them with the right programs, partners, and resources to turn strong ideas into real community impact here in Hampton Roads.
