The lower middle score of the two applicants seems to be the way things are done now. Seems to be the lenders excuse not to offer you their best rate. Odd to me that you could have anywhere from an 850 down to a 700, but if your spouses score is 699, yours are irrelevent for the rate.
From Chapter 13 discharge and low 500s in 2015 to EQ: 781 TU: 767 EX: 794 in 2017...Make your vision your reality.