Is Real Estate Right for Me?

[Drake Imholte]

I AM NOT LOOKING FOR A MENTOR. I am asking how to advertise to find a mentor in my area effectively. After reading tons of books on real estate and finance, I believe this is my future. I love to analyze properties and talking to people. I enjoy moving parts and dealing with numbers. I want to start buying properties but I am currently stationed at Miramar base in San Diego, California. I could be moved at any moment and the houses here are quite expensive. My BAH could cover costs while I am stationed here, however the second they move me my BAH will drop significantly. Any vacancy would be a huge issue. I have tried to reach out to real estate agents, brokers, and investors to see if I could work for them to start getting experience. I know at the start I don't have much to offer. How can I be more effective in my search for a "mentor" and are people usually put off by people looking for these types of posts? What are effective ways I can see what path I want to take in real estate? Do I want to be a real estate agent, mortgage broker, appraiser, ect? What will help me make a better decision?