Sounds great Samuel, I am around and would love to connect. 

Hopefully this makes sense, but sounds like you are got caught in an assessment when you purchased.

You need someone who clicks with you personally before engaging in a mentor/mentee relationship with the dedication and stress that may be involved.Where to find a mentorStart by looking within your existing network.

And if you don't have experience investing in trust deeds, my example may sound confusing.

Most invest in these smaller assets focusing on wrong criteria leading them to markets without meaningful appreciation and even when they do stumble across a market with strong fundamentals they do not understand  real estate finance and/or fail to exit these assets when they the appreciation event occurs wrongly focusing on rental cash flow.The ability to combine a high earning W2 with a sound investment thesis is a winning recipe but not realistic for most.

It sounds like you’re in a great position to get started—$100k saved up and a clear goal are huge advantages.

Any suggestions I should consider before engaging them?

Hey Matt, Long-distance investing can open up great opportunities—sounds like you’ve been making it work well!

It sounds like you should probably give them the entire $1,500 if they’re your friend.

The book is useful for understanding how to structure deals, assess risks, and think like a lender, rather than just an investor.Pair this with engaging in forums like this one and attending local meetups to put what you learn into practice.