Matthew Sharman, team leader of The Sharman Team at Real Broker NY LLC, has been recognized in three categories of the 2026 RateMyAgent Awards: County Winner, Agent of the Year for Livingston County, New York; City Winner, Agent of the Year for Conesus Lake; and State Winner, Top 10 Agent in New York. These awards, determined by verified client reviews attached to completed transactions, place Sharman among the most highly reviewed real estate professionals in the state.
The RateMyAgent Awards are a brokerage-agnostic program launched in the United States in 2021. Unlike other industry recognitions that often rely on sales volume or production metrics, the RateMyAgent Awards are based solely on how clients rate their experience with an agent. This focus on client satisfaction underscores a growing trend in the real estate industry where the quality of service is becoming a key differentiator in a competitive market.
Sharman leads a team that 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 (Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Orleans, and Wyoming counties). His practice is built around the technical details that distinguish one waterfront property from another: usable frontage, water depth and lake bottom, lot orientation, dock and breakwater condition, and shared-access arrangements that govern how neighboring owners use the water. For buyers and sellers, these factors can significantly impact property value and quality of life, making Sharman's expertise invaluable.
“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 was born and raised in the region and works alongside his father, who has been licensed in the area for five decades. This continuity gives the team a long view of how the western Finger Lakes market has evolved, and how that history shows up in the value of a specific parcel today. For clients, this generational insight can be crucial in navigating the complexities of lakefront properties, where historical usage rights and changing regulations can affect current ownership.
“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.” His approach reflects a broader industry shift toward transparency and data-driven decision-making, as buyers demand more detailed information before making significant investments.
The implications of this recognition extend beyond Sharman's team. For the real estate industry, it highlights the importance of client feedback as a meaningful measure of performance. For consumers, it provides a trustworthy way to identify agents who deliver exceptional service. In a market where the purchase of a home is often the largest financial transaction a person makes, the ability to rely on verified reviews can reduce risk and enhance confidence. Sharman's multiple awards serve as a testament to the value of client-centric practices in real estate.
