Beginner Finding a Mentor

[Aaron Smart]

So, I've been reading a lot on REI lately and feel like the more I read the less it is useful. I need to get hands on experience at some point. In my readings, a lot of people say a mentor is about the best way to go about getting into REI successfully.

I have an idea of potentially finding a mentor and want to hear thoughts. The idea would either go over as a brilliant go getter or a lunatic stalker. Let me know your thoughts.

I've been scouring the property appraisers websites to see who is buying property and what it is selling for in different areas. I have found that a lot of properties are being sold to LLCs. I can easily find the owners of these LLCs, find out their address and check out their house on Google maps. If their house is big and in a good neighborhood, I can assume they are either successful or in debt up to their eyeballs. Obviously, for a mentor, I want someone successful. Once I find a person who I think appears successful, I can write/email them and let them know that I am looking for a mentor and can offer my services for free should they be willing to take me under their wing.

Stalker or brilliant?

[James Vermillion]

Why would you do all of that when you can find rehab projects going on and find the owner that way or attend a real estate investing association meeting a few times and figure out what people have going on?

I am not so sure how much you can tell by looking at someone's house on Google maps anyways. Unless it is in the slums or they are one of the wealthiest around it would be difficult to tell.
Not to mention, there are a lot of people out there sending junk email and mail, so I would think approaching them in person would be much better, because I doubt too many people would be willing to respond.

As far as the LLC goes, many people setup LLCs in a manner in which you cannot tell who the true owner is (via attorneys), so that is a roadblock as well. I just think there are many other ways to find a mentor, but I will be interested to see what others think.