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Updated almost 10 years ago on . Most recent reply
![Dwayne Uzzell's profile image](https://bpimg.biggerpockets.com/no_overlay/uploads/social_user/user_avatar/206060/1621433150-avatar-jaymny.jpg?twic=v1/output=image/cover=128x128&v=2)
MENTOR IN REAL ESTATE
HOW DO YOU RECOGNIZE A GOOD MENTOR.
IS IT STILL POSSIBLE TO FIND A MENTOR WITHOUT PAYING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BEFORE YOU EVEN LEARN ANYTHING.
CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT A MENTOR REALLY MEANS.
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![Trevor Ewen's profile image](https://bpimg.biggerpockets.com/no_overlay/uploads/social_user/user_avatar/193434/1621432288-avatar-trevorewen.jpg?twic=v1/output=image/cover=128x128&v=2)
To your second question, certainly. I don't think you should be paying for friends and qualitative advice.
The Webster dictionary definition is fairly apt: someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person.
I have mentors in many areas of my life. The process of meeting them is organic, and is usually not forced through a program or some sort of arrangement. My uncle was my earliest career mentor. He obviously cares to help me because of our relationship, but my brother would not consider him a mentor. We had something in common in our interests, we had an existing relationship, and I reach out to him for advice when I need it.
For REI, I reach out to other more experience investors depending on the issue encountered. I know people who specialize in urban real estate, rural real estate, suburban real estate, and law. It's nice to meet and interact with these people at different times for different reasons. In the end, I consider them friends.