Backcountry Real Estate.
Veteran Expertise.
Starlene Bennin and Ashlyn Windsor serve buyers, sellers, tenants, and property owners across rural San Diego and Riverside County — a mother-daughter team with deep roots in the veteran community.
How We Can Help
Full-service real estate for the backcountry and beyond
Buy & Sell
From ranch properties to mountain retreats — we know every trail, every well, every parcel in the backcountry.
Property Management
Full-service PM for rural properties. Tenant screening, maintenance, rent collection, owner statements.
Veteran Expertise
VA loans, tax exemptions, relocation assistance. Starlene served — she understands what veterans need.
Featured Properties
Backcountry San Diego listings — live MLS feed coming soon
Mountain View Ranch
3 bed · 5.2 acres
Oak Grove Homestead
4 bed · 10 acres
Desert Sky Retreat
2 bed · 20 acres
Why Veterans Choose the Backcountry
Most veteran real estate is suburban VA-loan work. We lean into the opposite — space, self-reliance, and the rural life a lot of us came home wanting.
Post-Service Freedom
Space, privacy, and the ability to live on your own terms — exactly what a lot of us came home wanting.
Off-Grid Capable
Solar-ready parcels, well and septic guidance, fire-zone know-how. Rural infrastructure isn't abstract to us.
VA Loan in Rural Markets
Appraisers, septic, water rights, manufactured-home quirks — we know where VA files get stuck and how to unstick them.
Room to Breathe
Julian to Ranchita to Warner Springs — acreage, horses, night skies, and neighbors who respect a fence line.
Local Expertise
Backcountry San Diego isn't one market — it's a dozen small ones. Here's where we work.
Mountain charm at 4,200 feet
Julian is the jewel of San Diego's backcountry — a historic gold mining town at 4,200 feet elevation, famous for its apple orchards, pies, and small-town charm. With a walkable Main Street, local wineries, and real four-season weather, Julian offers a lifestyle that feels worlds away from the coast while being just 60 miles from downtown San Diego.
Explore Julian
Valley living in the heart of the backcountry
Santa Ysabel is the crossroads of the backcountry — a quiet valley community centered on the historic Santa Ysabel Ranch and the famous Dudley's Bakery. Located between Julian and Ramona on Highway 78/79, it's the geographic and cultural heart of backcountry San Diego. This is ranch country — open meadows, rolling hills, and a pace of life that rewards patience.
Explore Santa Ysabel
Where the desert meets the mountains
Ranchita sits at the eastern edge of San Diego's backcountry, where mountain terrain transitions to high desert. At 4,000+ feet, it offers larger parcels, genuine privacy, and a lifestyle suited to those who want space, quiet, and the ability to live on their own terms. This is where you go when you want land — real land.
Explore Ranchita
Horse country with a hometown feel
Ramona is the gateway to the backcountry — close enough to urban San Diego for convenience, rural enough for horses, livestock, and elbow room. Known as the "Turkey Capital of the World," Ramona has grown into a thriving community with a wine country emerging in its valley, strong schools, and the infrastructure that makes rural living practical.
Explore Ramona
From Our Clients
Real words from people Starlene and Ashlyn have helped buy, sell, and relocate.
“Starlene and Ashlyn were wonderful to work with. There were many rounds of negotiations in our land acquisition and they were both attentive and aggressive in getting us the property we wanted at the best possible price for our unique situation.”
Krystal & Erick Tronboll
Backcountry land acquisition
“Star and Ashlyn were great — had great recommendations of companies to use to get the property ready for selling. They were right there and available whenever I had questions or concerns regarding the sale. Highly recommend.”
Karen Klawitter
Sold in Santa Ysabel, CA
“As a military family, you don't always have the option to fly out and look at properties. Based on many conversations, Star found us our house — because she truly listens when you speak! We bought our house sight unseen and laid eyes on it the day we got our keys.”
Lisa Stehle
Military family · Bought in Oceanside, CA
Discipline. Integrity. Service.
Starlene Bennin is a Marine veteran who built her real estate career the same way she served — with discipline, integrity, and a commitment to the people around her. Ashlyn Windsor is a San Diego County native who served for six years in the U.S. Coast Guard and brings the same standard to every client. Whether you're a veteran using your VA benefits, a family looking for land, or a property owner who needs reliable management — you're in good hands.
10 Must-Knows Before Buying Rural San Diego Land
Water, septic, power, access, fire zones, zoning, VA-loan quirks — the ten things Starlene wishes every backcountry buyer knew before they made an offer. Written from 15+ years of rural San Diego transactions.
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