Removing trees is expensive (trust me) and they do have benefits like shade and privacy.

My suggestion is to focus on loan paydown, property appreciation, and tax benefits rather than the cash flow or lack there of from the investment.

The benefit to the seller is that they get 0% down deals with lower than average interest rates for commercial deals (Seller carrying 25-50% note at negotiated 0% interest) and have theoretically infinite returns with 0% down.

Although I enjoy the benefits of working for a company I am beginning to get tired of the corporate grind. 

You'll likely find many in this community willing to share their knowledge, especially with a mutual benefit like that.Start by reaching out to local real estate investment groups or networking events in DFW, as well as connecting with folks here on BiggerPockets who have experience in your target market.

So, what I do to satisfy both the financial benefits of utilizing leverage AND the psychological benefit of being debt free is I only have mortgage loans in which the property is the sole collateral with no liability to myself or my entities.  

It’s always refreshing to see a community where people are eager to share their knowledge and experiences.Regarding your plans for financing, have you considered the benefits of working with a specialized lender?

He ended up keeping it as a rental, but what tipped the scales for him was the rent appreciation potential in his specific neighborhood and the tax benefits of holding onto a property with a great interest rate.

The benefit with an electronic lock is that if the tenant isn't present you can simply txt them their new PIN so they can enter when they return.

Cost-benefit analysis needs to be done.