Is it smart to buy in Atlanta's westside by the New GA Dome?

[Cresundo Whitaker]

I am looking to buy a house soon. I am a first time home buyer but I wanted to make some money with my first house. So these are my ideas which started from bigger pockets podcast:

1. Buy a duplex live on one side rent out the other side, live mortgage free an stack money for the next investment

2. Buy a duplex and just rent out to college students, business professionals, or airbnb all of the rooms singly except the room that I am staying in of course. Let that help me build up more money to put into the next investment.

3. Buy a 3/2 single family, rent out the rooms to college students or business professionals or Airbnb, let that help me pay my mortgage and stack for the next investment.

So this is my dilemma, I am looking at the westside of atlanta area. Close to the Georgia Dome, the castleberry park, vine city, ect. area.

I am looking at that area because I think that it would be a good investment since there is a new stadium and a new hard rock hotel popping up near there in the next few years. But as of right now it is still on of the worst areas for crime and drugs in Atlanta .

Now I grew up in the hood and sketchy neighborhoods like that all my life so I am not afraid of living there for myself. I was wondering two things.

1. Would a seasoned real estate agent who knows the market in atlanta would say that the area is going to go through a resurgence and that the houses in the area would rise in value because of the planned development.

2. Would this be better suited as a buy and hold opportunity than a buy and rent opportunity because of the safety of the area and the type of residents that the area would probably attract.

I am a noob in real estate so any and all advice is welcome. But I have to add that if you are going to advise me whether it is positive or negative advice/criticism please give a solution to the negative and a reason for the positive so I can learn about the mindset and the vision that I need when looking at investments. Because I may be looking at things through rose gold colored glasses and need a reality check. I'm all up for a reality check that can teach me something.

Thank you in advance.