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All Roads Lead to Real Estate

A Maryland podcast hosted by Matt Rhine

Full Interview · September 17, 2026

What Makes Buyers Bid Higher? Inside Alex Cooper Auctions

Matt Rhine sits down with Matt and Carley Cooper of a century-old auction house to help Maryland buyers and sellers weigh their options.

Choose the full interview or a clip below.

Alex Cooper Auctioneers

Matt CooperActing CEO at recording · Real Estate Broker
Carley CooperAuctioneer · Real Estate Associate Broker

Inside the Interview

  • See why a low opening bid can end in a high final price.
  • Learn when a clear auction date could help a seller decide.
  • Watch how an online bid clock gives buyers time to respond.
  • Know what to inspect, review and finance before bidding.
  • See how your agent can stay involved if you sell at auction.

Featured moment

Why a $20K opening bid isn’t a $20K sale

D.C. properties that opened near $20,000 ultimately sold for millions. Hear what the opening number really means.

Meet the Guest

Matt & Carley Cooper

Fourth-generation leaders of Alex Cooper Auctioneers, Matt and Carley know the work behind the bidding. Matt, a real estate broker introduced as acting CEO in this interview, oversees agents and transactions and helped build the company’s online bidding platform. Carley, an auctioneer and real estate associate broker, works on property histories, contracts, valuations and pre-auction preparation. Since its 1924 founding, their family’s company has sold billions of dollars in real estate across the D.C., Baltimore and Virginia markets, including more than 13,000 properties since 2012. Those are company-wide results, not individual sales totals.

More about Matt & Carley Cooper

Matt Rhine has already co-marketed a property with Alex Cooper and explored its commercial auctions from the buyer side. He brings that first-hand experience to questions Maryland clients actually face: what an opening bid means, how buyers prepare, and when a seller should compare an auction with a traditional listing. It is a practical conversation about choosing the right path—not assuming one format works for everyone.

Visit Alex Cooper Auctioneers’ website ↗
  • Billionsin real estate sold
  • 13,000+properties sold since 2012
  • Family-owned since 1924four generations of leadership

Company-wide figures from Alex Cooper Auctioneers: real estate sales · properties since 2012 · company history.

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Interview highlights

Three questions worth hearing.

Choose a highlight to watch it in the interview player above. Restart the full interview anytime.

A $20,000 Opening Bid Isn’t a $20,000 Sale

The Coopers explain how an opening bid is chosen, then recall the D.C. properties that opened low and sold for millions.

Sold As Is Doesn’t Have to Mean a Closed Book

The Coopers describe tours, inspection access and the unglamorous details buyers need before a voluntary auction.

A Winning Bid Isn’t Always a Bargain

The Coopers discuss the range of auction outcomes and how competition can change a buyer’s expectations.

From the interview

The questions behind the bid.

Explore the key questions, then watch each answer in context.

Why might a homeowner consider an auction?

The Coopers point to a set sale date rather than waiting indefinitely for an offer. Whether that works depends on the property and terms.

Watch from 01:03:37 →

Is the opening bid the sale price?

No. The Coopers cite D.C. properties that opened at $20,000 and sold for millions; an opening bid is not a promised sale price.

Watch from 00:55:42 →

Can a buyer inspect a property before an auction?

The Coopers say buyers may request an inspection with the seller’s permission; access depends on the sale.

Watch from 00:34:20 →

Does winning at auction mean getting a bargain?

Not necessarily. The Coopers describe bargains, expected prices, and prices far above expectations; the format alone guarantees none of them.

Watch from 00:28:56 →

Are all real estate auctions foreclosures?

No. A homeowner can choose a voluntary auction; a foreclosure is involuntary.

Watch from 00:23:12 →

Is an auction right for every home?

No. Buyers needing very low down payments or financing and inspection contingencies may not meet a given auction’s terms.

Watch from 00:42:05 →

More from the conversation

How is the opening bid chosen?

The Coopers say there is no fixed formula; they consider comparable properties and the current market.

Watch from 00:55:16 →
What deposit does a voluntary auction buyer need?

For their auctions, the Coopers describe a typical 10% non-refundable deposit, or typically 5% for properties worth a couple of million dollars.

Watch from 00:31:49 →
Can a buyer use financing?

Yes, if buyers can provide the deposit upfront and close under the sale terms. The Coopers give an example of financed buyers recovering deposit funds at closing.

Watch from 00:44:18 →
What if a buyer’s financing falls through?

For their voluntary auctions, the Coopers say there is no financing contingency. A buyer whose financing fails risks the escrowed deposit.

Watch from 00:32:07 →
Can buyers tour a property before bidding?

The Coopers describe guided tours at voluntary auctions and photos of the HVAC, roof, and electrical systems.

Watch from 00:33:27 →
What property information can buyers review?

For commercial sales, the Coopers describe available leases, profit-and-loss records, licenses, and repair or improvement information shared in advance.

Watch from 00:34:45 →
How does a foreclosure auction differ for buyers?

The Coopers describe less inspection access, uncertain possession at closing, and more complex financing or legal issues than in voluntary auctions.

Watch from 00:25:24 →
How do absolute and reserve auctions differ?

An absolute auction requires the seller to accept the result regardless of price; a reserve auction keeps a price threshold.

Watch from 00:56:48 →
Does everyone know the reserve price?

No. The Coopers say a reserve is usually confidential, though a seller may advertise a “to be sold at or above” threshold.

Watch from 00:57:54 →
Can a buyer bring a real estate agent?

Yes. The Coopers say agents can bring clients; ask about participation and compensation before the auction ends.

Watch from 00:45:33 →
Can a seller’s agent work alongside the auction house?

Yes. The Coopers describe referrals or co-listing rather than necessarily excluding the existing agent.

Watch from 00:52:58 →
What happens if someone bids at the last second?

On the online platform the Coopers describe, a bid with under 2 minutes 59 seconds remaining refreshes the clock so others can respond.

Watch from 00:59:27 →

Auction deposits, contingencies, inspection access and closing deadlines depend on the specific sale. Review its terms before you bid.

Work with Matt

Make your next move with a plan.

An auction and a traditional sale ask different questions. Matt and his Maryland team can help you compare options, make a plan, and navigate the real-estate details through closing. Review specific auction terms with the auction house before bidding.

For buyers

Identify homes that fit your goals, compare auction and traditional sale terms, and plan your offer. Auction deposits and contingencies vary by sale.

Plan my home purchaseBuyer guidance
750+Families served
$350M+Team sales
18+Years serving clients

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