I am a General Contractor in Southern California, and I want to exchange my tool bags for clean pants with bigger pockets.

In my opinion, the best mentor and mentee relationships are free, in that no money is exchanged. 

I think my plan now is to network and find someone who will be willing to mentor me in exchange for my working for them.

Consider using a 1031 exchange to avoid taxes.

Typically you would view a property, then if you are dealing with the seller directly you might come to some basic verbal terms and exchange contact info.

If the OP's family income for 2015 will be under approx. $90K, they should look into buying off their state exchange.  

I am looking to invest in smaller multi-families, refinance, and then eventually do a 1031 exchange for larger multi-families.

If you intend to buy another rental property you might look into a Section 1031 exchange to defer the capital gains tax.

Repeat until I have made my way high enough to be able to 1031 into an Apartment complex that produces tremendous cashflow.

you can generally get a no money down dealMy favorite IRA custodian that puts together the paperwork for private lender money is www.trustetc.comResearch on that site "private banker concept"Personally I hate banks, and try to avoid them at all costs Lastly You can look at 1031 trading properties like a bunch of houses for a small apartment building too@Brad Kirkconnell