In an era where real estate accolades often hinge on transaction counts, the 2026 RateMyAgent Awards have taken a different route, honoring professionals based on verified client feedback. Matthew Sharman, team leader of The Sharman Team at Real Broker NY LLC, has emerged as a standout in this client-centric evaluation, securing three distinct honors: Agent of the Year for Livingston County, Agent of the Year for Conesus Lake, and a Top 10 Agent in New York State.
The RateMyAgent Awards, a brokerage-agnostic program launched in the U.S. in 2021, rely on reviews tied to completed transactions, ensuring that recognition reflects the quality of the client experience rather than mere sales volume. Sharman's achievements place him among the most highly reviewed real estate professionals in the state, a testament to his team's dedication to client satisfaction.
Sharman specializes in waterfront and lake-access properties across Conesus Lake, Honeoye Lake, Silver Lake, and the western Finger Lakes, along with the greater Rochester market and the GLOW region. His practice is built on a deep understanding of the nuances that differentiate waterfront properties: usable frontage versus recorded frontage, water depth, lot orientation, dock condition, and shared-access agreements. As he puts it, "Buyers on Conesus Lake are more selective than they have ever been. They deserve someone who can tell them exactly what they are buying, down to the foot of frontage."
The recognition is particularly meaningful because it is driven by clients, not spreadsheets. Reflecting on the honor, Sharman noted, "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 roots in the region, alongside his father—a licensed agent for five decades—provide a historical perspective that informs his approach. This continuity allows the team to understand how the western Finger Lakes market has evolved and how that history impacts property values today. The 2026 RateMyAgent awards, as highlighted on the RateMyAgent platform, underscore a growing trend in the industry: prioritizing client feedback as a measure of professional excellence.
For Sharman, these awards are not just personal achievements but a reflection of his team's commitment to transparency and detailed service in a competitive market. As the real estate landscape continues to evolve, client reviews are becoming an increasingly vital metric for consumers seeking trustworthy agents. Sharman's recognition serves as a reminder that in an industry often driven by numbers, the human element remains paramount.
