Bidding on a Home search auction

[Lynn Maher]

Hello,

I'm interested in a duplex that is listed on the Home Search auction site. It's been listed before for auction and is now listed to auction  again between  11/11 and 11/14.

I contacted a realtor when I originally found this property on zillow and trulia and she showed it to me yesterday. It had been listed at 52k but now, as of yesterday, the starting bid is 30k. I'm confused about the bidding process. When I mentioned the 30k to her she said that that just means someone placed a bid for that. And that I could only bid once. Her thoughts were that I should offer the 52k. My question is does this mean bidding is occurring before the auction starts on 11/11? And, if I can only bid once wouldn't it be in my best interest to wait until just before the auction closes on the 14th to see how it plays out? She didn't seem tremendously knowledgable about this.

Also, as an FYI this place has been vacant for at least two years. 

Thanks for any assistance!!

Lynn