Home123, with its home-remodeling icon Bob Vila as its star spokesman, reported its online application rates have reached more than 80 percent of the combined online and call-in applications. The company attributes its online application success to its proprietary portal, direct-response marketing effort and low cost-per-application strategy. Unlike most of its competitors, Home123 brings consumers directly to its web site using its own proprietary portal without other marketing costs. Many e-lenders get the majority of