Matthew Sharman, team leader of The Sharman Team at Real Broker NY LLC, has been named the 2026 RateMyAgent Agent of the Year for Livingston County and Conesus Lake, and a Top 10 Agent in New York State. These honors, announced on August 28, 2026, are based on verified client reviews tied to completed transactions, rather than on sales volume alone, marking a shift in how real estate professional excellence is measured.
The RateMyAgent Awards, a brokerage-agnostic program launched in the United States in 2021, evaluate agents based on the feedback of clients who have actually worked with them. This approach provides a more authentic measure of an agent's performance, as it reflects the quality of the client experience rather than just the number of properties sold. Sharman's three awards place him among the most highly reviewed real estate professionals in New York State, a testament to his dedication to client satisfaction.
Sharman leads a team that specializes in waterfront and lake-access properties across Conesus Lake, Honeoye Lake, Silver Lake, and the western Finger Lakes, as well as the greater Rochester market and the GLOW region (Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Orleans, and Wyoming counties). His practice is characterized by a meticulous attention to the technical details that differentiate waterfront properties: usable frontage versus recorded frontage, water depth and lake bottom composition, lot orientation, dock and breakwater condition, and the shared-access and easement arrangements that affect neighboring owners' use of the water.
"These awards are decided by clients, not by a spreadsheet, and that is what makes them mean something to me," said Sharman. "Every review behind them came from someone who trusted our team with a decision that mattered – a family buying their first place on the water, or a seller letting go of a cottage that has been in the family for forty years. Getting that right takes local knowledge and a lot of homework."
Sharman's deep roots in the region, having been born and raised there and working alongside his father who has been licensed for five decades, provide a long-term perspective on the western Finger Lakes market. This continuity allows his team to understand how historical changes impact the current value of specific parcels, a critical advantage for clients.
"Buyers on Conesus Lake are more selective than they have ever been," Sharman added. "They deserve someone who can tell them exactly what they are buying, down to the foot of frontage."
The recognition from RateMyAgent not only highlights Sharman's individual achievements but also underscores a broader trend in the real estate industry: the growing importance of client satisfaction and transparent feedback. In an era where online reviews shape consumer decisions, awards based on verified client reviews offer potential homebuyers and sellers a reliable indicator of an agent's competence and trustworthiness. RateMyAgent, a platform operating in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, provides a space for clients to share their experiences, thereby helping others make informed choices.
For Sharman, these awards are a reflection of his team's commitment to delivering exceptional service. His focus on the nuanced details of waterfront properties, combined with his local expertise, ensures that his clients receive accurate and comprehensive information, empowering them to make well-informed decisions. This approach has not only earned him accolades but also the loyalty and positive reviews of his clients, further cementing his reputation as a top real estate professional in New York.
