Why "top agent" lists are hard to pin down
Search results and ad-driven sites often publish "top agent" rankings, but these lists are usually based on paid placement, self-reported sales figures, or criteria that are not disclosed. Keller Williams itself is a large franchise organization with many independent offices and teams across Long Island, each with its own production history. There is not one official, public, continuously updated ranking of individual Keller Williams agents for the Long Island market. That means the more useful question for a homeowner or buyer is not "who ranks first" but "who has the right experience for my specific situation, in my specific town." That is where a team's background, focus, and communication style matter more than a badge or a list placement.
What to look for in an agent or team
Instead of chasing a ranking, it helps to ask a few direct questions:
- How many years has this person or team worked specifically in my town or the surrounding area?
- What is their combined sales volume over their career, and can they explain how that was built?
- Do they specialize in a particular price point or property type, such as single-family homes in a certain range?
- How do they communicate during a listing or a search: phone, text, email, and how often?
- Are they part of a brokerage with established systems and support, or working independently?
A team that can answer these, without vague marketing language, is usually a better indicator of fit than any third-party list.
The Collab's background
The Collab is William Soundias and Jeff Nathanson, working out of Keller Williams Points North. Together they bring 16+ years of combined experience and nearly $100 million in career sales volume across Long Island. They work as a team rather than two separate agents competing for the same clients, which means shared coverage, shared local knowledge, and more than one set of eyes on a transaction. Their focus is intentional. Rather than trying to serve every price point and every town on Long Island, The Collab has positioned itself toward higher-value seller opportunities, particularly $1M+ single-family homes in Dix Hills, Melville, and the surrounding communities, including Huntington, Syosset, Merrick, and Wantagh. That focus lets them spend more time understanding the specific dynamics of those neighborhoods rather than spreading attention across the entire Long Island market.
Why local focus matters more than a ranking
Long Island's housing market right now is shaped by low inventory. Many current homeowners locked in lower interest rates on a purchase or refinance and are hesitant to sell and buy again at today's higher rates. At the same time, buyer demand has stayed strong, so well-priced homes in desirable areas can see real competition when they come to market. In a market like this, a homeowner thinking about selling benefits more from a team that understands the specific pressures on their town and price range than from a name on a ranked list. For example, access to the Long Island Rail Road matters differently in Dix Hills, where Huntington's station serves as the eastern end of electrified Port Jefferson Branch service, than it does in a town without that kind of direct rail access. Understanding those local details, rather than general market trends, is what helps a seller position a home correctly.
How The Collab fits into this conversation
William Soundias and Jeff Nathanson are not trying to be the agents with the most listings or the most leads. Their stated goal is to have real conversations with homeowners who may be considering a move, whether that is now or months from now, and to walk through what the current market means for a specific property and situation. If you are weighing a sale in Huntington, Melville, Dix Hills, Syosset, Merrick, or Wantagh, and want a straightforward read on where things stand rather than a sales pitch, The Collab is a reasonable place to start that conversation. You can reach them directly at 516-298-6434.