I’ve done both for OOS REI and it’s time consuming and I did it for free to build relationship and got burned and will be slower to consider it again…but, still, after 3 weeks I would still be back to my first paragraph.

Time consuming?

New to RE investing...what's the best method for finding/tracking consumer trends in single family dwellings.

Is there any financial harm to a consumer?

Assuming you are a New Jersey landlord, you know that the eviction process is quite time consuming, between getting everything filed and then waiting on a court date, finding out your court date is a month away, then showing up and hoping you win the judgement on day 1 without the tenant causing any further issues (like another court day).  

Could put the consumer debt into a debt reduction plan or file bankrupcty and find something that pays better

Whatever your interest - Real Estate or otherwise - become a student of that subject - buy several books and consume them until you feel comfortable with the "lingo of the trade" and the Processes & Systems involved.

I was thinking it was much more time consuming.  

only because i have read that wholesaling is aggressive, time consuming, and at most times really hard to manage between buyers lists, getting deals, ect.   

You are forcing a consumer to work with someone who could be totally horrible.