Our Story

Starlene Bennin joined the United States Marine Corps with a simple belief: when you commit to something, you give it everything you have. That belief carried her through service, and it carries her through every real estate transaction today.

After her service, Starlene found her way to the backcountry of San Diego County — the rolling hills of Julian, the open spaces of Ranchita, the quiet strength of Santa Ysabel. She fell in love with the land and the community, and she decided to build her career helping others find their place here too.

She earned her real estate license, built her expertise in rural properties — wells, septic systems, fire zones, equestrian zoning, off-grid living — and became the person that neighbors called when they needed someone they could trust. Not just to sell a house, but to manage their rental, navigate a VA loan, or figure out what a parcel of raw land was really worth.

The name “Semper Vets” comes from “Semper Fidelis” — Always Faithful. It's the Marine Corps motto, and it's how Starlene runs her business. Faithful to her clients, faithful to the community, faithful to doing the right thing even when nobody is watching.

Today, Starlene leads the Semper Vets team alongside her daughter Ashlyn Windsor — a fellow veteran who chose to follow her mother into both military service and real estate. Together, this mother-daughter duo serves all buyers, sellers, tenants, and property owners across backcountry San Diego and Riverside County. Veterans are a specialty and a passion — but everyone who works with Semper Vets gets the same level of dedication and expertise.