In essence, with your RE license, you'd have the MLS info at your fingertips, pay your own commission, etc.?

Some benefits that come to mind...she wont have to list it, can sell exactly when she wants, possibly save on realtor commission etc.

The agent is not doing this their own....neither from the reason of having a higher offer/making a better commission, which is what most agent haters want to accuse them of first, Nor because she's being righteous or jealous......it's marching orders from the lender/asset manager.  

Commission is also another benefit I get when I buy properties.

The only potential advantages I can think of -- You get the whole commission and don't split it with your broker- It's possible in rare occasions that you'd run into a deal that didn't want dual agency which could preclude an agent with that firm from writing an offer.

Depending on the homeowner's situation and willingness, I would be able to buy them outright (to wholesale or flip), or would be willing to help them go through the short sale process, as I could earn a commission.

Purchase Price:  $39,000Buying Costs:  $1,000Selling Costs:  $10,400 (Incl. commission, buyer's closing & warranty)Rehab & Holding Costs:  $24,400Sale Price:  $101,500Profit:  $26,700Holding Time:  112 days close to closeThis property amazingly fell into our laps by word of mouth the day after we closed the sale on our first (modestly profitable) flip.  

Now the other thing you could do is  get a RE license and start to make commissions and learn the game. being in RE will put you in touch with those that are in the game...

As stated above, send a certified letter giving the PM 10 days to provide all funds and documentation or you will be filing a complaint with TREC(Texas Real Estate Commission) not the local Board of Realtors. 

There are also very large transaction costs on both sides of the purchase (explicitly or implicitly) and large organizations with political ties to maintain the cartel for real estate commissions.