Our Story
From the Marine Corps to backcountry San Diego — and the story behind the name.
Starlene Bennin
Broker Associate · Marine Corps Veteran · DRE #01730188
Born in California’s Central Valley, Starlene joined the Marine Corps in 1991. After her honorable discharge, she met her husband Corey — also a Marine — and supported him through 21 years of service before he retired.
Star brings 18+ years of real estate experience to her clients — sales, property management, short sales, and REO (bank-owned properties). She holds the Graduate REALTOR® Institute (GRI) designation and earned her Broker’s License in 2023.
In 2014, Star and her family moved to Ranchita — the backcountry they’d been drawn to since the early ’90s. They live off-grid, “at the end of the road,” by deliberate choice. She’s a mother of three and a grandmother of four, and that root system shows up in how she works.
The name “Semper Vets” comes from “Semper Fidelis” — Always Faithful, the Marine Corps motto. It’s how Star runs her work: faithful to her clients, faithful to the community, faithful to doing the right thing even when nobody is watching.
Ashlyn Windsor
Realtor · Coast Guard Veteran · DRE #02224221
A San Diego County native raised in a military family, Ashlyn joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 2012 and served six years as a Culinary Specialist. She holds an Associate’s degree and is finishing her Bachelor’s in Business Administration.
In 2019, Ashlyn moved deeper into the San Diego backcountry to be closer to family and the quiet that comes with it. She’s a wife and mother of four, and she brings the same standard of care to her client work that she brought to her crew.
She partners with her mother Starlene on sales and property management — pairing her own discipline and operational rigor with Star’s two-decade-plus rural real estate expertise. Together they serve all buyers, sellers, tenants, and property owners across backcountry San Diego and Riverside County. Veterans are a specialty and a passion — but every client gets the same level of dedication.
What We Stand For
Discipline
Every transaction handled with the precision and follow-through that military service demands. No shortcuts, no dropped balls.
Service
Starlene didn't stop serving when she left the Corps. Helping families find their place in the backcountry is a continuation of that mission.
Local Knowledge
Wells, septic, fire zones, road access, equestrian zoning — backcountry real estate has a learning curve. We already climbed it.
Community
We live here. We raise our families here. When we help you buy, sell, or manage property — it's personal.
Ready to Work with Us?
Whether you're buying your first home, selling the family ranch, or looking for a property manager who actually cares — we're here.