I purchased one recently for $40k, nothing is selling near your prices in our area but maybe you have a lot less demand for housing.This isn't an investment approach someone should walk into blindly. 

I am considering buying a 3/2 SFR using a typical house hack approach with VA loan in Dallas.

I think the most challenging part may be to locate the original homeowner and to convince them to deal with you.

It’s a cowardly approach, I don’t wanna be a coward.

I’m just not sure how to approach structuring the deal here.

Not every property is a good fit and in most cases liquidating a property that could be a challenge is often the best choice.

Schedule tours and ask them to make offers.The same approach applies to my 350,000sf warehouse project or the 1,000sf small user space.If you have the time and energy and willing to make the effort, you can do it. 

Investing requires cash, there are other approaches to starting without cash however they are usually much more work than a iindividule is prepared for and are rarley successful.

I have equity in my primary residence and have been studying up on biggerpockets.I am working on 2 BRRRRs at the moment.I know everyone approaches this differently.... but how would YOU achieve financial freedom if you were to start over again with a 250k loan?

So I don't have the complexity of paying of existing mortgage.Thanks,AnimeshIf it was anyone else, I'd say hold the note yourself and become the bank since it's paid off...However, since it's friends/acquaintances, and the last thing you want to do is take them to court (for note gone bad), you'd probably want to approach a RE attorney and a title company (is my guess...)Haven't dealt with it myself but I'm sure others will chime in with more specifics.