I feel like I live in a great location to cash in on multi-family units and vacation rentals in all seasons.

Seasoned successful investors are usually happy to pay a fee for good deals. 

Between seasoning, lenders not going above purchase price, etc, it sounds like this step trips a lot of people up!

Any advice on how to find a mentor and/or seasoned mortgage broker who would be willing to hire and train?

I discussed this with Navy Federal, who told me I wouldn't be approved for a loan due to the property not being "seasoned" - they said I'd have to own the home for at least a year.

I would look to work under a seasoned PM.

In fact, I am sure that "your reality" offers far more evidence that proves true than "my reality" (most or alot of people do fail in real estate), but to the select few out their that realize that this is not our practice life, and cannot wait around for 45 years till retirement, I would highly encourage you to start following your real estate dreams today.Yes there is a decent learning curve to real estate, and market conditions do change, but a good investor changes with the seasons, just as no farmer plants his corn in the winter, you need to adjust your investment ideas to meet your market conditions.

Rents in this neighborhood are $500 -625 a month so should be a cash flow property when finished.Have a wonderfull Holiday Season.

On brighter note, hope everyone has a good Holiday season!

But you do have the 90 day seasoning requirement.