@Alex Owens I know seller credits are 100% legal.

Why not go back to TD for a line of credit?

You can also apply for 2 or more credit builder cards (these often have low limits, and are a great way to quickly boost and build credit).

Because it’s going to cost at least $50 in credit card charges on a $2k/mo rental..Are you allowed to charge extra for credit card payments, say 5% surcharge so people are discouraged?

Fill out an application or complete credit/background check, no. 

with 780 credit and a five-year pre-payment this seems high.

credit not so good because life lol.

-- AND the practical thing: Clean up my credit rating by (a) increasing available credit (without any hard pulls), and (b) clearing as much open debt as possible to reduce credit utilization (and then keeping it clear!).

Quote from @Jimmy Rojas: Im a first time homebuyer, i been 1099 for 10yrs now, total monthly expenses $1500 , no debt, bring in $5k a month, experian credit score 745, looking to borrow no more than $200k maybe less, ideally $15k down payment , %6 or less interest,  monthly payments $1500 or less, what are my options and what route should i take. 

I set the Credit Score as 650+ negotiable in Zillow and I had two immediate applications with very bad scores.