There are many benefits to have a real estate license in my opinion. 

But you have the added benefit of being local to your market.  

I am sure I could have locked in this deal if I had not told her to try to sell herself on craigslist and FSBO but I would have felt like I was taking advantage of her and not giving her better options that would benefit her.

Their main concern will be the cash flow of the property.

For the most part that is true however, after reading a book called "The Deallionaire" by investor John Lee from Missouri (He was a guest on the Jennifer Hammond show), He talks about selling properties that he has bought  for less than $1000 using both conventional and unconventional means such as advertising a property via craigslist, social media marketing or selling through realtors and word of mouth.I'm mainly looking to venture into North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Texas and possible New Jersey for this.I have heard both John Lee and Ankit Duggal (A guest on Bigger Pockets show) mention buying into tax deed/tax liens AFTER the main auctions by simply requesting a list of properties that were still unsold. 

The relationships will give you a tremendous advantage of a possible off market deal as well as other benefits you might not be able to see now.    

I am also in Anchorage, AK and I own 1 investment property here and my main home.

The biggest benefits I could see was the automatic 1.65% financing and the property database service  (title, liens, crime, tax...).We didn't join and didn't provide any info at the event.

Most benefit from not needing an HOA fee.

@Hiren Patani  I don't see any benefit in this offer from your  bank unless you don't have any option.