Vet'ing a mentor?

[Caleb Mclamb]

Hello BP,

I am just getting started and have been active in my local REIA, I have been approached, about a week after a meeting, by a member who has offered his mentorship and would like to do a deal with a 50/50 split. He is an elderly gentlemen who seems to have been in the business for awhile.

Of course I am exited and happy to have struck up a conversation with the right person, however I want to trust but verify. What are the best ways I can verify their credibility when I myself am new in the business and don't have the connections to just ask around?

Is there any way I can look up tax records to see the properties they own? To see what they've bought and sold in the past few years? 

As I said I just want to trust...but verify.

Thank you for any insight