DR is great. I'll listen to him from time to time.
Having a higher FICO score is important in obtaining a mortgage. Ideally, you need to be in the mid-600s before applying for a mortgage. Probably the most important basis by which to have a higher scoring is having a good mix of credit. IMO, having any loans isn't that important to a mix (you can certainly hit the high-700s or even into the 800s without one). In other words, if that Badcock furniture account is a loan, pay it off and that'll help your DTI (not part of FICO scoring) come mortgage time. Also, paying the car off early was a good move too. However, if both are active installment accounts, and if you have no other open accounts, then you'll lose your FICO score because you have no open TLs and that can really impair your chances of getting a mortgage. In Dave-speak, he says that his FICO is "0". It isn't zero, but because he has no credit accounts then he has no score. If you do have other open accounts, and they are not closed, then ignore that part.
IMO, if you have no credit cards, then you may want to consider getting one or two before applying. Why? Revolving accounts play a HUGE part into FICO scoring. If you have no CCs, then I'd guess up to a 30-50 points gain if you added a couple. Lenders want to see that you can handle credit wisely. And Credit does not equal debt! You can easily have these accounts reporting and be debt free. Just don't use them. Or if you do use them, immediately pay it off. I don't recommend applying at random for a bunch of CCs, though. I recommend setting up a couple of secured CCs and that'll limit any inquiries. Also, the CL you set as a security for the secured card doesn't matter. It can be $100 or $1000. FICO doesn't care about CLs, only about how much of that CL you use. I suggest trying your local bank or credit union. Again, credit does not equal debt. Once you get the mortgage, you can always cancel those cards and get all your money back if FICO scoring isn't that important to you.
The medical debts are likely CAs reporting. Those are hurting your FICO score. You'd want them off. If they are paid and you paid the CA. you can always write the CA asking them to delete. If you paid the doctors office, you can write the doctors office asking them to contact the CA to delete.
I wouldn't touch the repo. It should fall off naturally next year but the history likely helps more than baddie hurts. I have one on my CR and I'm also in the mortgage process. The lender didn't even glance twice. They didn't care (mine is 6 yrs old).
Finally, ignore your EX score. It isn't a FICO score (from freecreditreport.com?). Ignore it because consumers can no longer purchase their own EX FICO score. Other than myFICO.com, you can also get your EQ FICO from Equifax.com or from your lender. Other than myFICO.com, you can also get your TU FICO from transunioncs.com (note the -cs) and from your lender. Finally, as of last year, Experian no longer allows consumers to pull their own EX FICO score, but you can get it from your lender or on your checking statement if you happen to have a checking account with a CU in PA called PSECU. Any other score from any other source are not FICO scores, but a knock-off we call FAKOs.
