I don't know specifically what it is, but I gather it is between 5-10%. The guy is my brother in law and received no help, his girlfriend is like 37 and not receiving any help either. She did sell a condo, but from what I've heard she actually lost some money selling it.
It's normal if you have a spotty credit history (reporting wise, from things like inquiries and creditor updates, not necessarily saying 'bad' credit). There are really a ton of factors that can put odd stuff on your bureaus, everything from typos to SLNs with shared addresses at different times overlapping reporting times to being listed as an authorized user on a card automatically that was in a roommate/spouse/parent's name. If it was closed in good standing years ago, may never have come up as an 'issue' but it is still listed on there.
Can't be sure until you check your reports, but generally identity theft involves fraud with intent not to repay not just 'borrowing' credit history. So unless no creditor has your correct information and you are completely unlisted, you'd be receiving calls pretty quickly for past due/charge-off/defaulted things. It's just by that point it's a huge mess because generally they will max out your borrowing potential in short time frames not just "oh $1500 discover card offer!" for a few years.
It's not weird to not use credit cards, but it's actually really foolish. You're throwing money away by not using them. Points, miles, cash back, deal portals, etc etc etc. You can use them just as you would cash, never spend what you normally wouldn't, but use them instead of using cash because they are more secure, offer a ton of benefits, and give rewards.
That's the direct benefit - plus the indirect benefits of what you save when you get better rates from a higher credit score and better history.
Depends entirely on your situation - I've got a wife with impulse control issues, that's bad at bookkeeping and was raised by parents that declared bankruptcy while she was living with them (and another time recently while she's not - might have even declared bankruptcy twice while she was younger, I forget - she was never taught how to properly handle money).
No clue what bank they're with - but wife's had hers stolen twice - and they never limboed our accounts at all. One time we got hit for about $400 or so on the card that got stolen and Wells had it back in the next morning before the investigation even finished. (Investigation took like 4 days before it was officially reversed - but the available balance was back the next morning when the banks updated for the morning)
Beyond the rewards (which can be substantial especially when factoring in things like shop discover and equivalents), credit cards often extend warranties for purchases, offer price protection in the form of refunding price differences, travel insurance on things like bags when booking flights with cards, just to name a few.
The shopping portals are the best feature. Even if you don't use the cards (or don't let your wife use them) you can still access all the portals which give some very, very good benefits.
You should of been seriously looking 8 months ago. anyways its almost spring which traditionally is when the flood of houses go onto the market. So just keep looking, but don't go desperate status and settle for shit.