They are both in demand, and appear to be growing, like multifamily.I would stay away from office and nota big fan of retail strip centers. 

I do all of the work except for contract review by broker and they pay for the pm software and overhead of having a physical location for the brokerage (although rents collected and owner payments are all done online).

Another useful feature is enabling online payments, which makes it easier for customers to pay and can speed up the process.

I've purchased a few units online and they don't require any sort of licensing. 

Check out other online guides available here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/guides3.

Check out other online guides available here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/guides3.

Out-of-state investors, do you recommend a reputable online source that provides crime rates and other demographic information of cities/zipcodes?

You can also check their reviews online at Google, Facebook, or Yelp.

They have a great online portal for tenants and owners.

I would say enjoy the free insulation, you can get a window unit online and go from there.