I had to hire a licensed architect to create a floor plan with fire safety information annotated in order to get a change of use for transient rental approved.  

I doubt you want to see photos of me coordinating architects and contractors so I can get my damn permit application in already!  

There are a lot of moving parts and you truly are as strong as your weakest link whether it be the architect, GC or anyone in between. 

I recently went to a local REIA meeting and mentioned to another investor (male-who happened to be a retired architect) that my husband (who is not an investor) is an architect.  

@Rowland Smith your process is to have a structural engineer or an architect look at it an prepare a scope.

The web page has a graph that seams to show Denver - hard costs - at $165. questionable source. https://fundrise.com/education/blog-posts/real-est...The second link is from the  American institute of Architects on construction costs.

Once I figure out the best and most secure way to own property, my goal is to try and get the architect and builders to understand and add some of the advances in electrical and plumbing features that we take for granted in the west.I've been following this thread with the hope that I will see someone chime in with "the answer" to owning property here as a foreigner but so far the advice that has been offered here has been a confirmation of what I have determined to be my options in VN.The rules change a lot but I think that is to be expected when the local government is playing catchup due to savvy foreign investors coming to town and asking the necessary and appropriate questions.

As licensed Architect I don't fit the selections.

@Dan Sheeks probably best to start with an architect.

Be careful with it though and only accept a true engineered cost segregation study done with a site survey by a construction engineer or architect qualified in cost segregation.