.- Many of these HCOL areas also have strict limitations on AirBnB or short-term rentals... that do not apply to owner-occupants - thus allowing for extreme cashflow potential for house-hackers.

@Michael Keffer Hi Mike, I am still interested in learning more about Ocala FL for potential future investment. 

Really interested in investing in this market and would accept a relatively low return (or even a break even scenario because i believe in continued appreciation potential here). 

They must scare at least 40% of your potential customers away.  

So, they could potentially buy another house later on.

The potential problems mentioned by the responding posters in this thread are real and well thought out.  

Here you would have to put it in the MLS if your are with NAR, but it wouldn't syndicate out to all of the public sights, and you can send it to any potential buyer that you may know.

Assume a couple of months of vacancy, consider potential unexpected repairs (like HVAC or plumbing issues), and test the numbers with rents dropping by 10-15%.

If I have a skill, knowledge, the right contacts or or a passion that can be leveraged into potential gains, that is where my money is applied.

Even one vacancy or non-paying tenant could potentially be a major problem.And yes, there were vacancies, and non-paying tenants, and major problems.