I had originally looked into multi-family units as a possible stepping stone into commercial real estate down the road but was dissuaded by some of the online reports I found regarding crime statistics in the neighborhoods I was canvassing.

Wholesaling in Canada is not really realistic due to the much different real estate, banking and investing climate up here.It is rarely successful statistically even in the US, less so up here.

You can also google crime statistics for your area.

The reason that the opinions are 50/50 is because statistics show that about 50% of investors are using a LLC, 50% not.To me this would indicate that it is not necessary otherwise by now the number using a LLC would be approaching the 100% mark.

I wanted to do an objective analysis so I figured out what parameters were most important for a reliable, cash flowing market (Low price/rent, positive population growth or influx, and job growth) tried to quantify them in widely available statistics and put them all together for the major (and some data for minor) metropolitan statistical areas.  

Oahu statistics http://www.hicentral.com/oahu-historical-data.php https://www.zillow.com/honolulu-hi/home-values/

@Ray Harrell I do agree with you that there are an annoying number of self-aggrandizing, non-useful,  phoney,  Oprahesque posts which show unrealistic, absurdly high margins  on a statistical outlieing flip, rehab, or SVR.  

Does anyone have a recommendation for private/government statistics which have rental vacancies rate broken down by county, town or even neighborhood?

Statistics show you get more 💰 if you use a competent sales agent. 

That is such a small % less than a fraction of 1% of the exchanges we've done as  to be grossly statistically insignificant.