This is the biggest investment of my life and I feel like I should be making a more educated decision rather than just picking the first person whom happened to have a listing I was interested in.  

The biggest pro is that I won't have to involve my mom in any way.

The biggest difference I can find having been on both sides of this is simple marketing -- Realtors can use the Realtor logo, receive created Realtor designations if they pay more to take association classes, which they can use to promote themselves (more marketing like the logo), and may benefit from the Realtor commercials promoting their membership. 

The biggest perk of having a license is access.

We're open to both long term rental tenants and short term using Air B&B for example.The kids will be enrolled in North Port which is the only reason we dont purchase in Tampa which shows to have a great market, so trying to stay within 30 minutes travel time from North Port area.My biggest problem is paying rent for about a year, when we can just as easily put it towards a mortgage if there is an area that makes sense close by long term.

You'll have to pay the local Board of Realtors to gain access to the Multilisting Service (your biggest fee).

Facebook and Craigslist have been my two biggest hitters of late.

If time is the biggest factor, get them in the house before closing, doing as-built drawings, and preparing/permitting before you even close.good luck, 

I would like to know what are some of the biggest expenses Investors come across when purchasing and owning a property in San Antonio, TX. 

Generally, if this is your only building, you will still be the biggest risk factor in the property, and the bank will look at you and underwrite you.As to how hard it is to refi out a hard money lender, this will depend on leverage and any value you created.