Thai visas are a bit of a scam. The free ones are great but once you start applying for retirement visas etc it becomes a bureaucratic nightmare. At least with a visa run you get what you pay for. Some of these farangs need to travel more anyway. Their knowledge outside their home country is appalling.
You could get a Thai 'consultant' who will gladly advise you in regards to how to buy a house in her name, deposit your money into her bank account etc. In regards to visas I'm sure you'll be allowed to do visa runs to Cambodia or Laos for a few hours each time.