Or if your'e living in it would you feel comfortable in that area. 

I'm currently exploring opportunities in the Honolulu market and looking to use my VA renovation loan to purchase a 3-4 bedroom home, renovate it, and rent out the extra rooms as part of a co-living/house-hacking strategy.

Live under your means and start thinking about investing in Real Estate.In your position the thought of finding a duplex to house hack, live in one side and rent the other. 

I live in CA and own my primary residence. 

As a fellow West Aussie who's now living in the US, I can tell you this forum and most of the training/courses you'll see online regarding multifamily investment isn't relevant/applicable in Australia.

5 strangers all living in a home that have to somehow get along. 

You will likely have negative initial cash flow reducing this return, but typically the negative cash flow is short lived. 

I’ve currently got a 3/3 and generally there’s 2 of us living here but when my daughter and family come visit, 5-6 people having even more than 3 bathrooms would be a plus.

My ultimate goal is to live in it until I can buy a second property and then backfill my first property with a tenant.

@Mason Edwards I live and invest in Knoxville.