Comparing two deals - with almost same price point #1. no rent increases but Percentage rent lease - There is a base rent ( ~65% of NOI)  and the rest is percentage of their gross sales in last 12 months#2. 10% rent increase every 5 yearsAs a newbie option #2 seems preferable /safer to me, and #1 may be slightly riskier.

So explaining why an investor (you) is preferable in their situation is critical.  

I plan to live in one side and rent the other out for at least 2-5 years then will either get a property manager (preferred) or sell.

I would share with a good potential tenant but I wouldn't while showing, just my preference.

We have equity lines on properties in the US so we could pull out some equity, but would prefer to finance as much as possible. 

Cost seg people and 1031 people predictably assure us that there's nothing to worry about.

I've done both but I prefer just letting a realtor sell it, in the couple cases where I didn't after the fact I think they would've ended up making up their realtor fee with a higher purchase price.  

Most loan packages include something you sign that says that you will cooperate with them to correct any technical errors like this and I believe it also includes the ability for them to sign for you if you don't but obviously they prefer to have clean paperwork where you have signed it. 

And I agree that I would not want to do a refinance on the primary mortgage and prefer to hold on to it for cash flow. 

There's  nothing wrong with investing in syndications if you are writing smaller checks but perhaps invest with the syndicator who is chasing your checks because you are the only option, not the preferred option.