You can meet local investors by registering to attend real estate events in your area: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521-events-and-happenings6.

You do not need a  mentor program, see if you can attend a  few meetups and then do a Joint Venture or equity deal with one of the investors there  and start from there.

My wife started her master's program, and we can no longer attend because it is midterm week.

Evan,I read the book and attended the seminar. 

Network with local investors and attend real estate meetups to learn from others' experiences.

You can meet local investors by registering to attend real estate events in your area: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521-events-and-happenings6.

Attend local events and invest in learning.

We sold our TX home and relocated to Orlando so my son could attend school and save money by living at home.

A few tips to build it faster:1) Attend local real estate meetups and networking events—Houston has an active investor community, and BiggerPockets is a great place to connect with others before meeting them in person.2) Join Facebook groups and other online forums for Houston real estate investors.

I've been attending local meet ups and they're extremely helpful talking to people who have a deep knowledge of local markets, especially San Francisco and San Jose.