If you are an "authorized user" on your husband's credit card(s) you can benefit from his credit and start increasing your score.

How can I help versus how can I benefit.  

If an agent really takes the time to understand what's benefiting the client, it's more straightforward.  

Considering it is listed as a benefit of upgrading to pro account..

This way I'm semi-retired working my own hours and enjoying the tax benefits of a RE professional.

This approach works well for wholesalers who sell deals to flippers, and flippers or realtors can benefit even more by taking the extra step to generate their own off-market leads.No one said methods like cold calling, direct mail, or Facebook/Google ads won’t help a realtor find off-market opportunities.Just a friendly thought, especially given the high costs associated with Zillow leads.

And in return I think the health of the overall housing market will benefit as well. 

Live where you want and invest where the numbers make the most sense.The benefit of living in NYC is that you hopefully make a nice salary compared to others in the country.This gives you a competitive advantage when you want to buy properties in other parts of the country.If you are investing in NYC, you are not investing for the cash-flow but the potential appreciation.I used to live in NYC(now I am a digital nomad) and I decided to invest in Florida.

Good property management can mitigate some risks and handle tenant issues more effectively.Ultimately, some investors are drawn to these markets because they see the unique long-term benefits as outweighing the challenges.

Being a licensed agent does have it's benefits when buying.