[abfunders]

My report show 0 inquires. I don't have a heloc. My house is paid off 100%, as of about 3 years ago. No lates on anything on my report. Credit utilization is at 30%. Have 2 open car loans on my credit...

Have about a total of about 6 credit cards.

If it is best to get the utilization down to 20% before I try to secure new auths, I can do that within 2 month. Even sooner if I decide to use money I have now to pay it down, versus earmarking future incoming funds to pay it down.

Also is it a negative, that I no longer house payment on my credit? It does show that for 17 years I had a house payment and never missed a payment.

Depends who you ask!
Having paid off the mortgage is a plus. It means that you pay loans you take.
Having car payments going is going to take care of installment loans, but also are good.
0 inquiries in amazing, shows you're not out there throwing your name, searching for any money (obviously that changes as you actually do start looking for money)
Under 30% is also excellent. Under 20% is slightly better, but there's no hard and fast rule. Getting a preapproval ("underwrite the underwriters") now, and base paying down the cards on what we think we can do. There's no reason not to pay down the credit cards (and be paying interest) if you can get a bunch more at 0 APR.
If you do it right, you'd be paying about 2-4% yearly as you bounce between credit programs.
And your wife can join the fun also, if her credit is as stellar as yours