real estate in Thailand

Hello

I am sure that many of us have pondered over the many facets of " how to buy either land, or land with a house, or a condo in Thailand as a farang.
Freehold, leasehiod, chanote etc....are common words in this real estate nightmare

We likely all know about the famous corporation with the farang and 2 Thai friends, whereas the farang although only possessing 49% but is in control of the corporation.

I came across a new one this weekend and I would appreciate if anyone could shed some light on.
I found a nice small house on 1 rai in the mountains of North Thailand. Next to this property, I counted at least 4 visible houses with 1+ rai each. A nice road that leads to these houses with manicured vegetation on either side.
However, the 20 years old realtor told me that 1) there was no chanote 2) chanote should not be expected because I would just pay taxes on this property, and 3) Chanote could not be expected because it is in a national forest.
The latter caught my attention (as well as the second but more so the third) and fosters a conundrum that I cannot wrap my head around.  How could it be that a set of expensive houses with each 1-3 rais and with obviously a nice road could be built in a national forest without intervention of the Thai administration? or is it just a "bs" from the young realtor? 
Does anyone has a rational answer for this conundrum?

Thank you to all!!!!!