I am trying to leverage my home's equity to access investment funds but I've run into a road block.

Having lived in many different states and cities, there are few places I have seen where you can have a really great area and go a few blocks and be in a bad area. 

The home is in a good location - 3 blocks from the up and coming revitalized "downtown square" with boutique shops, cute restaurants, coffee shops.

If you send the security deposit disposition to the address they rented from you with ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED written in the area between the address block and stamp you'll get a postcard back with the details if the mail is forwarded. 

As an investor-focused real estate agent, I can assure you that there are areas in Atlanta that can vary block by block.

Block your neighbours calls.

Foundations are endemic and you need to be very well-informed as to the neighborhoods. for out of state I concur with 39211  and some of 39206  the other zips are south jackson which can be very block to block and in my mind more appropriate for a local in the know investor like Susan..  39211 is a very nice mixture of owner occ and rentals where a fixed up home will retail and retail for a nice profit many times.. 

I'm looking for ideas on how to handle a potential bust cycle and prevent it from blocking my progress towards acquiring a second property.

If I am going to the more affordable area, I'd try to stay within a block of Kensington Ave versus further in, if that makes sense.I've spoke to some PM's in the area, anything specific you're referring to? 

I would ignore/block those emails, if I were you.