Currently in research and networking phase.

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.

Cost-benefit analysis needs to be done.

Some of our initial baseline, no-go, criteria when we first listed were: 600+ credit score, no evictions, no bankruptcy, and income 3x rent... however, after finding that very few interested parties were eligible to even "enter a review phase" of landlord verifications etc, we loosened up a bit and went to an objective scoring model that I tweaked from a few ideas obtained after speaking to both rental professionals in my local area and some on this forum. 

We jointly took part in the design phase, and they got what they wanted and I got what I wanted.

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?

I'm in the research phase right now, so I appreciate your insights on what I should be looking at. 

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.

This arrangement can benefit both parties if structured properly.Hard Money Loans: These are asset-based loans provided by private lenders.