What value can I offer my real estate agent?

[Julian Fung]

Hello guys!

I am trying to find a mentor as suggested by the biggerpockets book/guide, and the real estate agent I've been working with came to mind. I got in touch with a top real estate agent in my local market and will be working with her to close my first deal in the near future (I'm looking to buy my first property in the next 6-9 months and house hack/buy, hold and rent from there). She has been super helpful and responsive whenever I've reached out to ask newbie questions so far. 

I am thinking to ask to follow and learn from her when she goes out and shows listings and interact with potential buyers/sellers. Are there any good suggestions as to what value I can offer in return, especially when she's listed as a top 100 agent on Real Trends?

[Joe Villeneuve]

First, unless ta REA is an investor (and that doesn't automatically mean they know what they are doing as an investor) REA's are not a good source of knowledge of "how to invest".  They will be able to get you knowledge on how to list, buy, close, basically the mechanics of the deal.  That's about it.  Buying and selling RE isn't the same thing as "investing" in RE.  This is a case of, "even though all squares are rectangles, that doesn't automatically mean all rectangles are squares".

2nd, the best value you would give a REA, is more closings.