So I'm wondering what people think about volunteering with Habitat for Humanity to learn about rehab and associated costs. 

What about habitat for humanity?

I love infrastructure, habitat, building things, improving things, and making money.

For anyone interested in gaining hands-on construction experience, we have a few spots left in our team Habitat for Humanity build day.

I might encourage you to look at volunteering with habitat for humanity or other similar organizations.

Aside from habitat for humanity  volunteer efforts, learning actual construction will have to be in another life time. 

But they are in neighborhoods that are renter dominated and the existing homes still sell for less than replacement costs.. so until those existing homes sell for more than they cost to replace you wont have any real building in the lower value areas unless its subsidized by Habitat or other non profits..

I'm not about hand outs, that is way the question about me trolling for contributions was insulting...Like Mercy Housing, Habitat for Humanity our company and folks with Home Partners of America.  

reno takes longer than expected, shopping at Habitat for Humanity stores and similar reuse stores are a godsend...

Just have fun with it and before you know it your back at the closing table making a goog profit,PS check your local habitat for humanity restore you may find granite tops, doors, and lots more.