San Diego has been a very exciting and sometimes dangerous place to be in the past four days.

There is smoke and ash in the air, but this is overshadowed by people in San Diego so willing to comfort or thank anyone who crossed their paths.

I am very fortunate that I am not in an evacuation area, but am deeply concerned for my beautiful daughter, my brother, sister, and many friends and clients as well as my "mortgage family" at General Mortgage in Rancho Bernardo.

Dick Palmer owns General Mortgage and runs it with some great people. Among them are Jami Hix, Louis Swanepoel, his son, Mitch Palmer, and son-in law, Eric Olsen.

I heard on Monday or Tuesday that the fire had burned to the ice plant on the fire break at Dick Palmer's home, and that the fire had stopped at that fire break. Other homes within the same block were completely destroyed. I hope to hear today that Palmer home is still safe.

I have also been very impressed with how the people of San Diego came together to help one another. I have watched, on television, the evacuation of over a half a million people done peacefully and with wonderful tenderness. My trip to the grocery store was evident that children were staying close to their parents and that stocking up on bottled water and other supplies was a big priority. The lady in front of me thanked the cashier and bag boy for coming to work. I told her that I was planning to do the same thing and was so proud that she did it first.

Clowns entertained children who were staying at Qualcomm Stadium while their families wait for the time when they can go back to see whether their homes are standing or not. We knew we hit the "big time" when Brian Williams with NBC arrived along with Matt Lauer from the TODAY show.

It is such stark contrast to the evacuation, or lack of it, during the Katrina Hurricane. We owe a debt of gratitude to those folks for exposing the need for all the parties to work together to help the victims of disasters. It is so painful to see that it will take years to restore the City of New Orleans.

It will take years to rebuild the damage to Southern California, but it will happen. Families will ache for their losses and others celebrate their being spared. Those of us who have been spared feel for those not quite so lucky.

As of 9:30 last night, 2,718 structures have been destroyed. This includes homes, commercial buildings, and out buildings in San Diego County. As I sit at my computer writing, I believe that another 200 have been added to that figure.

The Mayor of San Diego, the County Supervisor, the Armed Forces, the Govenor have all been very present to inspect the area and to comfort the families. All of the firemen, policemen, and Armed Forces support have worked long and hard in impossible situations.

The President will come on Thursday and hopefully, the Santa Ana winds will have subsided by then. 

A long-time local broadcaster, Larry Himmel, stood in front of his own home as it burned to the ground and reported what was going on in his neighborhood throughout the day.

I am so proud to live in San Diego, to have the wonderful family and friends who are so ready to step up to help others, and to be able to witness the peaceful evacuation of so many people. So many companies and facilities pitched in to provide space for pets, livestock, and other needs of the people evacuees.

As a loan officer, many people would consider me to be a "sales person". I consider myself a counselor, but if I am a "sales person", I am one who must believe in the product I am selling. I am proud to work with a company that truly cares beyond their bottom line and works toward the mutual success of their clients and loan officers.

I  have lived in San Diego since I was 11 years old and have never been so proud to call this my home as I am today. I can truly recommend the "product" of owning a home in San Diego.

Keep an eye on us as we rebuild. The fact that property values have declined a bit is good news because it makes our precious real estate even more affordable for those of you who will want to put down roots here. It is a great place to live.

"San Diego Real Estate has just become even more precious to all of us."