Self-employed since 1977, Donn Bree’s responsibilities include the organization and operation of Red Hawk Realty. Donn began his finance career packaging business loans in the early 1980’s and established Interstate Funding Group and Red Hawk Realty in 1990. Donn’s professional career has been a pursuit merging his personal and professional interests including his love of rural environments, natural sciences, and the technical aspects of real estate.

As a three-sport athlete and lifelong mountaineer, Donn has learned the value of preparation and hard-work as it relates to proven results. Born into a Central California ranching family, Donn lives and embraces the rural real estate lifestyle in which he practices his profession. Among his favorite downtime activities are his passion for music as a songwriter, singer and performer, and engaging in work on his backcountry farm.

Education:
University of San Diego
Coleman University
Union Institute
Bachelor of Science
Doctor of Philosophy & Natural Science

Expertise:
Real Estate & Investment Consulting
Asset Management
Environmental Site Assessment
Residential, Land, Commercial & Investment

View Our Testimonials

Meriah Druliner grew up and currently resides in the backcountry of San Diego County on beautiful Palomar Mountain living a completely self-sustainable lifestyle. For 10 years, she owned and operated a successful restaurant business, in terms of both reputation and financial health. Upon the sale of her business, Meriah began a fulfilling career in the real estate industry which has led to a strong passion about all types of real estate, building relationships and helping people achieve the lifestyle they aspire.

With a long history in the San Diego Backcountry, Meriah is very familiar with the area and all its rewards. Despite selling her restaurant, Meriah has a true passion for cooking, and it continues to be among her favorite pastimes. She also enjoys hiking, traveling and spending quality time with family and friends.


Education:
University of California, San Diego
Bachelor of Arts & Certificated Paralegal

Expertise:
Marketing Management
Legal & Financial Risk Management
Client Relationship Management
Residential, Land, Commercial & Investment

View Our Testimonials

Kelly is a seasoned professional with an impressive 23-year track record in the dynamic world of real estate. Her journey began with a focus on real estate financing, and she has since evolved into a multifaceted real estate expert. For the past 14 years, Kelly has been a pivotal member of the Red Hawk Realty team, where she has donned various hats, including Realtor and Transaction Coordinator, and presently serves as the Operations Manager.

In her role as Operations Manager at Red Hawk Realty, Kelly's responsibilities encompass a wide spectrum of operating and marketing tasks critical to the day to day activities fostering excellent communication between the team, agents, and clients. Her expertise extends to contract and transaction oversight.

As an alumna of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where she earned a degree in finance and economics, Kelly's comprehensive education combined with over two decades of hands-on experience has qualified her as an experienced real estate consultant. She brings this wealth of expertise and passion to her role as Operations Manager at Red Hawk Realty, ensuring unparalleled support and success for her team and clients alike.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Kelly is a proud native San Diegan and dedicated mother to two children. You can often find her on the sidelines of soccer fields, passionately cheering on her daughter and son.

Native to the San Diego Backcountry, Kent Dover is a multi-faceted team member with strong ties to Julian & the surrounding areas. As a local Landowner, Artist, Craftsman, in addition to holding a Real Estate License with Red Hawk Realty, Kent has developed an eye and talent for revealing and accentuating potential in properties of all caliber. Kent comes from a local family of Real Estate Investors & Renovators and holds a strong background in various Academic & Practical Studies. With Real World sensibilities stemming from Client-Service related endeavors, Kent is a clear communicator and advocate in his representation of clientele. As a Certified Drone Pilot & Photographer, Kent is equipped to show listings in their true colors. Lastly, and most importantly is Kent’s dedicated fiduciary responsibility to all Red Hawk Realty clientele.

“Negotiated sale well above asking price; excellent response to questions and issues, sound advice throughout. We highly recommend Kent Dover.” – Neil & Jill James

View More Testimonials

Growing up in the beautiful San Diego County backcountry communities of Palomar Mountain and Fallbrook ignited Jake Swenson’s innate passion for the rugged outdoors and nurtured his appreciation for the rewards of country living. As a graduate from University of Pacific with a degree in real estate and finance, Jake embarked on a nearly 10-year career in the fast-paced world of commercial real estate with experience ranging from industrial and retail property development to nationwide online auctions for all commercial product types.

Never forgetting his roots and love of the backcountry, his journey evolved with the adaptation of his professional experience and skills and a redirection toward the fulfilling niche of rural real estate by joining the Red Hawk Realty team. Specializing in farm and ranches, mountain retreats, vacant land and recreational properties, Jake’s professional and educational experience combined with area knowledge and a love of the great outdoors positions him as an expert in the field ready to serve all his client’s real estate needs.

Jake currently resides in Fallbrook with his wife and two children and enjoys hunting, fishing, surfing and snowboarding among other outdoor pursuits.

"Jake Swenson was amazing to work with when purchasing our property. He is trustworthy, kind, honest, and dependable. He went the extra mile and we are so grateful as new property owners. The process was so smooth because of him!" - Amanda DeGoede

View More Testimonials

Jim has been licensed as a Real Estate Broker for more than 30 years and has joined Red Hawk Realty as a Broker Associate. During his career in the Real Estate Industry, Jim has been actively involved; Including: Title Insurance, Escrow, Private Mortgage Insurance, Banking, Mortgage Banking, Land Acquisition, Development and Sales, Franchising, and Venture Capital.

A native of North Dakota, Jim was raised with a love for the land on a family farm where he learned the value of hard work. He continues his involvement in cattle ranching as a partner of J2K Land & Cattle. He is excited to bring his experience and passion for the real estate industry to Red Hawk Realty and is thankful for the opportunity to be associated with the No. 1 team of professionals in the Backcountry under the leadership of Donn Bree.

"My wife and I have been working with Jim and Danielle for the last couple of years while searching for our first home. They are well versed in the real estate industry and were so professional during the whole process. With their help, we recently closed on a beautiful property. They were so helpful during the whole escrow process and negotiated great terms for us. Thank you to both of them for all their hard work and help! We are over the moon with our new home". - David Vazquez

View More Testimonials

Starlene Bennin is a California Native, born in the Central Valley. Her professional journey began with the Marine Corps in 1991. Shortly after her honorable discharge from the service, she met her husband, Corey, who was also a Marine. She continued to support and serve with her husband until he retired after 21 years of faithful service. Just as she served the Marines with unwavering integrity and honor, she now brings the same level of dedication to her real estate clientele.

Star possesses a wealth of experience in the real estate industry, with an impressive 18+-year tenure covering Sales, Property Management, Short Sales, and REO (bank-owned properties). Her dedication to her craft is further evidenced by her Graduate REALTOR® Institute (GRI) designation, which signifies her additional knowledge of technical subjects and the fundamentals of real estate. In 2023, Star achieved her Brokers License, further enhancing her expertise in the field.

While her professional accomplishments are notable, Star's personal life is just as fulfilling. In 2014, Star and her family relocated to Ranchita, California. They have always been drawn to the San Diego backcountry since the early 90's, but when her husband's career in the Fire Service afforded them the opportunity to buy their own piece of property, they realized their dream of living at the end of the road. They live an off-grid, self-sustaining lifestyle that they wouldn't replicate anywhere else.

She is an active and engaged mother of three and a proud grandmother to four, and consistently demonstrates her commitment to both her family and her community.

Furthermore, Star leverages her association with Red Hawk Realty, a brokerage widely recognized as the area experts, to provide her clients with unmatched support and insights in their real estate transactions.

For your next real estate endeavor, don't hesitate to reach out to Starlene Bennin. She embodies professionalism, experience, and a genuine commitment to your real estate needs.

View Testimonials

Danielle grew up on a beautiful, self-sufficient, off-grid 90 acre ranch on Palomar Mountain in the backcountry of San Diego County. Leaving home after graduating from Julian High School, she attended University of California at Riverside where she enjoyed courses in Anthropology and Religious Studies. After college, Danielle resided in the metropolitan areas of Riverside County for several years. Longing for space, peacefulness, and friendliness of a quiet rural community, she and her beloved husband decided to move their family to the country setting of Warner Springs where they now reside with their two beautiful daughters. Danielle has always had a love of animals and the country lifestyle allows the freedom to provide a home to many animals, as well as fulfill her dream of living a more self-sufficient and off-grid lifestyle, similar to how she grew up. Her friendly personality, communication and organizational skills, and personal knowledge of the area make her a true asset to the Red Hawk Realty Team and clients.

"Danielle Knight and Jim Kylstad of Red Hawk Realty succeeded where other Real Estate companies had failed. Their patience and experience was the key to success." - Peter Flynn

View More Testimonials

Kat Forcadas is a dedicated realtor and digital marketing specialist for Red Hawk Realty where she carefully crafts impactful marketing strategies and campaigns for clients. Kat is known for her knowledge, client care, and deep community connections and involvement. In 2010, she left Los Angeles, where she was a TV producer and writer, for Julian to help launch Julian Hard Cider and where a new chapter of family, lifestyle, and community involvement began. Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Kat grew up loving nature and her time spent on her family’s 140-acre hobby farm near the gateway to the Rockies. Kat has always loved connecting and creating and she brings this passion to her work at Red Hawk Realty. Kat has a great love of the San Diego backcountry, its natural beauty, adventuring in it, its people, and its beautiful properties. She is a long-time resident of Wynola and an area expert who also lives part-time in the Loma Portal area of Point Loma. This makes her a valuable asset in providing client care up and down the hill.

Education:
Concordia University, Montreal, Canada BA Communications
San Diego State University MA in TV, Film, and Digital Production.

"Kat was our agent to sell my Grandma’s house when she passed and I couldn’t ask for a better agent. She was able to smoothly navigate me and my relatives through the whole process. We had to clear the house, clean and ready the house for sale and do all this remotely from across the state. She is very knowledgeable about the area since she lives in Julian as well. We were also able to get the sale price we wanted within a few weeks. You couldn’t ask for a more caring and helpful person to get you through a sometimes stressful situation." - Ed Anderson

View More Testimonials

Ashlyn Windsor is a proud native of San Diego County, where she was raised in a military family. Honoring the family tradition of service to the country, she embarked on her journey by joining the Coast Guard in 2012, where she dedicated six years of service as a Culinary Specialist. Along the way, she completed her Associate's program and is currently diligently working towards attaining her bachelor's degree in business administration.

In addition to her military service, Ashlyn is a devoted wife and loving mother of four. In 2019, she made the deliberate decision to move to the San Diego Backcountry, where she could be closer to her family and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of the area.

Ashlyn brings her dedication and a wealth of experience to the Red Hawk Realty Team, where she collaborates with her mother, Starlene Bennin, specializing in Sales and Property Management. Her commitment to both her family and her professional pursuits shines through in every aspect of her life.

Since 2001 Jenna has been a licensed real estate agent. She worked for Prudential in Ramona for a short time before deciding to hang her license closer to home. Jenna is a straight shooter with a knack for entrepreneurship. In addition to being successful in real estate, Jenna has built and run multiple businesses including: a local restaurant, a private hunting club and a beef business that sells in Whole Foods stores across the nation. She started her first business at the young age of 23 years old. Jenna is a leading business professional with over twenty years of experience keeping clients happy. She knows what it means to work hard and is not afraid to get her hands dirty.

Jenna moved to the back country as a child in 1990, she has been residing there ever since. She was raised in Julian. When she graduated high school she decided to commute to college rather than move to the big city and leave her town behind. Jenna has strong ties to the community and knows better than most what an incredibly special place it is. After experiencing the tragic loss of her husband, the town’s people rallied around her and her daughters. It was in those moments that she knew that she’d never want to leave.

"Jenna has been a wonderful representative for us as we put our property on the market, a difficult task due to fact that it is an off grid property. She is very prompt, adding value with extra effort beyond the call of duty included. Her attention to the myriad details of a California real estate transaction is impeccable. We have had previous experiences with other brokers and there is no comparison between them and what Jenna can offer." - Robert Wells

View More Testimonials

I'm a native to Southern California and along with my husband Don, fell in love with Santa Ysabel, bought a piece of it in 1987, and have lived in the backcountry ever since. I'm a college grad with a BS degree and mother to four sons, two of whom are Julian grads, and 4 grandchildren. Married 40 years, I worked in my family owned manufacturing businesses for over 15 yrs doing marketing and sales after the boys graduated. We have lived in Pauma Valley and Ramona, which gives me a pretty fair knowledge of the back country. My husband Don and I have bought and sold million dollar properties personally; and after we sold the companies, I thought I would get my real estate license and put the knowledge acquired from our personal experience to work. Real estate allows me to work around my family, which comes first. I love the wide open spaces God created, working in the dirt, dogs and horses as well as backcountry neighbors who are always there to help. Golf is my sport of choice (hiking 2nd) and can tell you of some of the best courses to play in San Diego.

View More Testimonials

Maya Streamer is a lifelong resident of the Warner Springs-Aguanga area. Her real estate expertise is in rural, recreational, retirement, and ranch properties. Maya’s large family is well known throughout the area. Her self-employment background as a Holistic Health Professional has resulted in Maya’s keen understanding of the investment side of real estate transactions, while her knowledge of the region makes her the area expert in property values.

“Believe me, you will be very pleased and well taken care of it you choose Gina and Maya to assist you in buying a home. I’m very happy with my deal and the work they put in to help me. I believe in their commitment to their client and would recommend them highly to anyone wanting to buy or sell here in the 92086 area which is a great place to live. So I’d say look no further and call their number. You’ll be glad you did.” – Clyde Atkinson

View More Testimonials

Gina Norte is a San Diego County native and longtime backcountry resident. She and her family are fully involved with the San Diego backcountry community and local Warner School District. Gina represents both buyers and sellers with local, professional knowledge of San Diego’s beautiful backcountry. She works hard at being available, attentive and detail oriented for all her clients, as well as being a resource to new backcountry residents. Gina is an avid hiker and has a passion for the all things outdoors. Specializing in ranches, homes, land and loans. Member NAR, CAR, NSDAR.

“I would like to thank Gina and Maya for their professional and efficient work selling my home. Throughout the process, each time the unexpected occurred, they were both very prompt, responsive, and creative in finding solutions. Both Gina and Maya are professional, pleasant, and diplomatic, assuring the greatest chance of maximizing the potential a real estate transaction.” - Gary Kent

View More Testimonials

Liz Pannell is the organizational maven supporting our real estate practice. Her experience includes a long stint as an executive assistant to the Chief Financial Officer of a major hospital district. Liz manages the money and procures resources for our corporation. In addition to her responsibilities as our staff accountant, Liz contributes significantly to our grass roots marketing program.

View Our Testimonials