There may be two reasons for the increase in people wanting to live in the Wheeling area, according to Realtor Bob Kennen. One is historically low interest rates -- around 4 percent -- and also the drilling industry, something that's created jobs and optimism for some in the area.

"I think it's due, in my opinion, to just more optimism in the area, because the oil and gas exploration. People are optimistic about jobs, feeling better about life," Kennen said.

According to Kennen, the number of units sold in the area, including local counties, is up 15 percent since this time last year. That's led to Realtors having to turn down people interested in moving to the area.

"We probably get three or four calls a week from people looking for a place to rent, and we have to say to them, 'I'm sorry, we don't know of anything,'" Kennen said.

However, Wheeling mayor Andy McKenzie said it's not that there is a shorting of housing, but rather a shortage of housing that people are interested in. He said young professionals and people involved with the drilling industry usually want newer homes, something Kennen said just isn't in Wheeling's vocabulary, since many of the neighborhoods have older, Victorian-style homes.

However, McKenzie said, city officials have been meeting with Realtors and developers, trying to get land ready to be built upon. Then, he said, the goal is to create downtown apartments and condos, as well as single-residence houses, types of homes that Realtors have said are what people are looking for.