you need a good income and decent health insurance make sure he only brings pocket money that he can afford to lose and don't financially invest in the country
rather stick pins in my eyes than live in the boonies. I'd need farang interaction. Seen many a man head up country bragging how cheap it is, month later they're back in patts
I would never recommend driving to Thailand fly then get a car when you're here. The house is your wife's as unfortunately as a foreigner you can never own the majority of a house