How and who sets the opening bid on a property?

How and who sets the opening bid on a prop being sold at the court house

Hi Hiram,
The lender gets to make the first bid which is called the Opening Bid. It can be as high as the published bid plus additional accrued interest and fees or they can choose to substantially discount the opening bid. In CA the lender is under no legal obligation to release the opening bid in advance of the sale.