Pros/Cons of Hiring Mentor?

[Chinyere Orie]

Hey everyone! So I'm just starting out in REI (and by just starting out, I mean I'm looking for my first deal). I'm focusing on buy and hold multifamily investing. I've heard great things about getting a mentor to really excel in investing. I have a mentor in mind who does a lot of business in my local market (Baltimore MD); the person mainly focuses on buy and hold and multifamily investing and has had great success. Should I start out with a mentor? Or should I do a few deals on my own before I hire a mentor? What should I look for in a mentor? Anyone have any experience with mentors, good or bad? Any feedback, success or non-success stories, and suggestions are greatly appreciated!