Any thoughts on how this could work for the benefit of everyone without anyone thinking I’m trying to “get one over” on them?

By virtue of asking this here, it's clear you're weighing the benefits (feasibility) of doing it yourself or hiring someone.

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

What benefit does this provide them?

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. 

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.

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.  

The due diligence   The GP then attempt to maximize the profits for their benefit and the benefit of the LPs.I have little doubt that active RE investors can produce a better return than RE syndications.