A Wilmington real estate school is expanding again.

Southern Choice Real Estate Academy is moving to a larger space with more parking at 220 Avondale Ave. Director and instructor Lee Eatmon purchased the school in September last year and moved it to 5911 Oleander Drive.

Eatmon said this week that the need for more parking and class space led to his decision to move the school again, to about 2,000 square feet in a building owned by Raley Commercial Properties.

"We're having to limit some classes and now we'll be able to do what we want to do," Eatmon said of the necessity to relocate.

From June 30 last year to the end of June this year, the school will have had about 3,200 students, a 15 to 20 percent increase from the previous year. Southern Choice offers "any and all real estate classes," including pre-licensing, post-licensing and continuing education, Eatmon said.

Eatmon said pre-licensing classes are particularly popular. The 75-hour class allows students to prepare for the state exam that enables them to get their real estate licenses.

"Every session we've offered at this location, we've filled it," Eatmon said of his current Oleander Drive space.

Eatmon said he hopes to be moved in to the Avondale Avenue space by late July or early August. Bernadette Silivanch and Nicholas Silivanch of Wilmington-based Eastern Carolinas Commercial Real Estate represented the landlord in the long-term lease transaction.

The real estate academy's new building is also occupied by South East Dance Academy.

Southern Choice Real Estate Academy has been offering real estate classes in Wilmington since 1997.