If you lived there 3 of last 5 years consider the value of exemption on capital gains tax.

Are there other, more cost-effective alternatives to gain similar support and knowledge?

Becoming a real estate agent is a good idea to gain experience, but you could also explore property management, wholesaling, or working with an investor to build your network. 

You can very quickly gain $1,000,000 doing value-add but to get to a million via saving up cash-flow..... good luck. 

The high end is the 20 or so co ops on 5th Avenue or Park Ave (one is on East End Avenue) that require liquid assets of $100 million + to gain board approval.  

But once they give it to you, you inherit their cost basis and have a taxable gain.

4) would this also work to defer gains on fix and flips?

My approach isn’t aiming for an overnight transformation but rather a gradual strategy where I reinvest equity gains and cash flow into scalable opportunities.

I am eager to learn the in's and out's of Charlotte residential real estate market as well as gain some experience flipping houses while turning a healthy profit for myself and investors. 

So your capital gain when you sell this property will be calculate against your tax basis and not against your mortgage as many investors expect.