Also, joined my local Habitat volunteer program to contribute a bit to the needy as well as myself can become a good handyman to DIY majority of home repairs in my future rentals/house-flips.I live in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Habitat Restore.

Habitat Charlotte offers you  a decent amount of opportunities to get yourself a 1st hand experience of different aspects in a typical new home construnction / flipping/s.  

Don't want to go towards the Edgewood market so Aberdeen Md  IMO is a market that has potential future growth and there is always the need for housing with the Army base there (until at which time Congress decides to close it) I have actually volunteered with Habitat in rehabbing houses below the tracks and I agree with your assessment. 

Try Habitat for Humanity ReStore

Now I am helping in-state and out-of-state clients do the same.I am also part of the Urban Land Institute, The Ohio State Center for Real Estate, and Habitat for Humanity.

Maybe you can go on Craigslist and offer to intern for some contractors or volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.

I have joined Habitat for Humanity's Family Services Committee but I still have the capacity for more activities.

Volunteer with Habitat for humanity projects (or similar non-profit rehab programs) and get as much exposure in the community as possible.

To give you idea the national average for Habitat for Humanity for building a home is $65 per sqft and they get all the labor donated for free.You can't build a house cheaper than Habitat, not possible.