Personally I don't understand why all VO don't accept property as proof of funds at the application stage. With bank funds, you can actually spend your funds the moment you send the statements off (I think CIC or VO can ask for further proof throughout the process), whereas a house is fixed and not going to be going anywhere, so you are far more likely to have those funds secured for your entire application process.
Understandably currencies fluctuate as do house prices. But we need to prove $13,801 for our application, we stated on the form we'll have $15,000 available and we've proven over $30,000 equity in our house giving us some breathing room if house prices move, and also some funds to cover moving.
Since we used spare bank funds to pay off credit cards so we had no debts (accept the mortgage) all our funds are tied up in the house, and I don't think it's reasonable for CIC to expect us to sell our house and live in temporary accomodation for 8 to 12 months before we even know if we will get a VISA or not. Having said that we are saving bank funds again now so if we're asked to provide further proof of how we will fund the remainder of our application (I heard from one London applicant who was asked to do this) then we will be able to do that.
Wayne.