As you mention Bay Area can be intimidating, but having a knowledgeable mentor (as above the one who volunteered to meet) would be a nice addition.

So it's a pleasure to volunteer my time helping others learn to help themselves.Private message me and we can plan.And Congrats!!

If you do not know about home construction, volunteer in your community building home.

The name on the headstones was from an old well-known local family (the local middle school carries their name) so we called the historical society and ended up talking to someone with that same last name who volunteered there, he was happy to come and take them off our hands.

At that point I want to volunteer work with someone in my area to get some experience, while I pay off my student loans and set up my primary residence.

I didn't have a strong enough "WHY" until my kids were born and I realized how much I love volunteering as a firefighter.

One renter works for the volunteer fire department. 

Once you get to know more people in the real estate investor space, then choose a couple and offer to volunteer or work for free. 

Unless you are volunteering your time and services equal to that of your brother, he deserves to be paid. 

When I was a volunteer fire fighter rookie I was trying to gain entry to a steel door house.