Quick answer: not under unsupervised administration — the norm for most Michigan estates. Only supervised administration, ordered on a genuine showing of necessity, requires the judge to approve a sale. Run your own numbers in the Michigan probate real estate sale calculator.
Unsupervised is the working default
Requesting supervision isn't the same as getting it
Any interested party, or the personal representative, can ask for supervised administration at any time — but under MCL 700.3502(3), the court doesn't order it just because it was requested; a genuine showing of necessity is generally required.
Once supervised, a sale needs the judge's sign-off
Under supervised administration, the judge must approve major actions, including any sale of the home — a sale-specific hearing on this track can add 4 to 8 weeks compared to the unsupervised timeline.
Supervision can be lifted again
At any time during supervised administration, any interested person or the personal representative may petition the court to terminate it under MCR 5.310(F) — supervision isn't necessarily permanent once ordered.
A restriction endorsed on the Letters changes the picture
If the court endorses a specific restriction on the Letters of Authority, that restriction limits what the personal representative can do without further court involvement, even under otherwise unsupervised administration.
A local probate attorney can review your estate — many offer a free consultation.
Wayne, Oakland, and Kent County each handle their own probate calendar, but the unsupervised default and the §3502(3) necessity standard for supervision apply identically statewide.