I encourage you to gently and patiently work on your derogs, using folks in the Rebuilding forum to help, and tools like the Goodwill Letter Saturation Technique. (The PFD approach for collections also makes a lot of sense.) Patience is the key and a proper long range view, since derog removal is not a consumer's right -- you have to find creditors willing to help. It can take years, and always takes many months.
That's about all I can say there since I have no personal experience with getting rid of derogs.
As far as your credit cards go, however, I do know a bit more. Here is some feedback.
Your scores will be maximized here by having all your cards at zero except one (AZEO) with the remaining card reporting a small balance. That strategy does not help you build credit over the long haul, however -- it is just something you do in the 40 days before you are trying to get your score in perfect shape.
As a long term strategy you have more latitude: use each card each month, keep your total utilization < 29%, and individual utilization < 49%.
As far as credit limits go, feel free to pursue credit limit increases (CLIs) but just know that having bigger CLs does not in itself help your score in the slightest. (It won't get you even one point.) The key is keeping your utilization low, and any person can do that regardless of what his limits are.
Good plan to have obtained a third card. The mortgage models love AZEO and love seeing multiple cards with a $0 balance. That's why 3+ cards is so important. Three is likely enough, however.
To swing back to the question that prompted this post, my feeling is that you really don't need constant updates about your mortgage scores. Once every 90 days is about right for you. The home purchase won't be happening for a long time in your case.
