@Kelli Loo it can be done in Chattanooga but you will need a great team on the ground with some serious skills.

What are good ways to develop and hone construction and handyman skills as a young person to help me with my future endeavors in real estate?

They need to go back to school and learn some new skills so that they can get a better paying job than what they already have.btw, I looked at their Linkedin profile. 

You will need to develop a few skills to be a successful wholesaler.  

What makes me want to become a wholesaler is because I see it as an opportunity to start off somewhere In Real Estate and build my learning skills on how it all works.

Lead generation is a big skill for the trade --- that's part of doing sales. 

With a competitive market you need an agent who has good communication skills and can write offers that stand out.

For example, your tenants are business people with more complex needs, and often good negotiating skills and a attorney or CPA looking over major transactions (such as a new lease).

You can then parlay those skills and experience into a 2nd property -- either the next house hack or a standalone investment propertyIf this is your first foray into real estate investing, I strongly suggest going the house-hacking route vs. living with your parents and managing an investment property from a distance. 

This is where soft skills play such a big part in land lording.