Opening bid
Where a foreclosure or tax auction starts: usually the lender's credit bid, or a minimum set by law.
The opening bid is where an auction starts. Who sets it, and whether you can see it ahead of time, depends on the kind of sale.
Trustee's sales (California and Texas). The lender usually opens with a credit bid: an amount up to what it's owed, bid without cash. A California notice of trustee's sale lists the unpaid balance and estimated costs, which gives a sense of the debt but isn't necessarily the opening bid. Some trustees release the opening bid shortly before the sale. Since 2025, at the first California sale of a one-to-four-unit home on a first loan, the trustee can't accept a bid under 67% of fair market value. California · Texas
Florida foreclosure sales. The final judgment states the amount owed, and the lender often bids on the clerk's auction. The winning bidder posts a 5% deposit. How Florida foreclosure works
Tax sales. Here the law sets the starting point. In a Florida tax deed sale, the opening bid is the outstanding certificates, taxes, interest and costs, plus half the assessed value on a homestead. In a California tax sale, the minimum bid is at least what it would take to redeem, plus costs.
Property Alerts shows an opening bid only when the notice or listing states one. Opening bids change, so check with the trustee or the clerk before the sale.
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General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, talk to a lawyer.