Quick answer: in unsupervised administration, no — the personal representative can sell without a prior court order. In supervised administration, yes. Run your own numbers in the Indiana probate real estate sale calculator.
Unsupervised administration: the lighter default when heirs cooperate
Closing still means a statement, and years of liability
Unsupervised doesn't mean unaccountable. The personal representative must file a closing statement confirming all duties have been fulfilled once administration is complete, and remains personally liable for their actions for 3 years after that filing — a real, extended exposure window worth keeping records for.
Supervised administration: approval before distribution
Where supervised administration applies, the personal representative files a petition for distribution and needs court approval before distributing assets or, in practice, before a real estate sale typically closes. A final accounting and a petition for discharge follow, with the court reviewing the accounting before formally closing the estate.
Bond can add a real cost either way
A bond may be required unless the will excuses it or the court waives it — but in unsupervised administration, a bond is generally not required at all, which is one more reason the unsupervised route tends to run cheaper and faster.
A local probate attorney can review your estate — many offer a free consultation.
Whether the case is in Marion, Allen, Lake, or Hamilton County, the same statutory framework for supervised versus unsupervised administration applies statewide.