I also have no intention of investing in rental properties in the UK no more due to a lot of horror stories and potential new changes in laws, which is why I am very eager to explore the US rental market.I am not a US citizen, my partner is and it will be a joint venture.

If there are opportunities for collaboration or sharing industry insights, I would be delighted to explore them further.

Susan your cardinal points are off a little  39209 is WEST Jackson and your correct that is the worst part of town. 

He left town.

If you have the means to get a loan and house hack in your current situation, I'd think living in a college town and knowing that town and area well would give you a strategic advantage.  

Your engineer or surveyor or town planning personnel should be able to give some idea of the timeline to having approval and a building permit.

If you’re exploring similar investments, careful planning, a solid legal understanding, and possibly a local partner can make a big difference.

I wanted to know what are some good neighborhoods on the outskirts of town. 

The property is in I would say a C+/B- part of town. 

@Josh WellsRecommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.Also, encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.