SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  March 10, 2000


                      CORNERSTONE REALTY INCOME TRUST, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


  VIRGINIA                         1-12875                   54-1589139
  (State of                        (Commission               (IRS Employer
  incorporation)                   File Number)              Identification No.)


  306 East Main Street
  Richmond, Virginia                                         23219
  (Address of principal                                      Zip Code)
  executive offices)


               Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                                 (804) 643-1761


<PAGE>



                      CORNERSTONE REALTY INCOME TRUST, INC.

                                    FORM 8-K


                                      Index




Item 5.           Other Events.

Item 7.           Exhibits.

                  Exhibits:

                       99     Press Release dated March 13, 2000  announcing the
                              sale by Cornerstone  Realty Income Trust,  Inc. of
                              16 apartment communities.




<PAGE>



Item 5.           Other Events

         On  March   13,   2000,   Cornerstone   Realty   Income   Trust,   Inc.
("Cornerstone")  issued a Press Release  (attached as an Exhibit to this Report)
announcing that it had sold 16 apartment communities.




<PAGE>



                                    SIGNATURE

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                   Cornerstone Realty Income Trust, Inc.

Date:  March 14, 2000              By: /s/  Stanley J. Olander, Jr.
                                       ----------------------------
                                         Stanley J. Olander, Jr.
                                         Chief Financial Officer
                                         Cornerstone Realty Income Trust, Inc.



<PAGE>



                                Index to Exhibits


Exhibit No.                         Exhibit
-----------                         -------



     99              Press Release dated March 13, 2000  announcing  the sale by
                     Cornerstone  Realty  Income  Trust,  Inc.  of 16  apartment
                     communities.
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  March 10, 2000

                      CORNERSTONE REALTY INCOME TRUST, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

  VIRGINIA                         1-12875                   54-1589139
  (State of                        (Commission               (IRS Employer
  incorporation)                   File Number)              Identification No.)

  306 East Main Street
  Richmond, Virginia                                         23219
  (Address of principal                                      Zip Code)
  executive offices)

               Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                                 (804) 643-1761
CORNERSTONE REALTY INCOME TRUST, INC.

                                    FORM 8-K

                                      Index

Item 5.           Other Events.

Item 7.           Exhibits.

                  Exhibits:

                       99     Press Release dated March 13, 2000  announcing the
                              sale by Cornerstone  Realty Income Trust,  Inc. of
                              16 apartment communities.
Item 5.           Other Events

         On  March   13,   2000,   Cornerstone   Realty   Income   Trust,   Inc.
("Cornerstone")  issued a Press Release  (attached as an Exhibit to this Report)
announcing that it had sold 16 apartment communities.
SIGNATURE

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                   Cornerstone Realty Income Trust, Inc.

Date:  March 14, 2000              By: /s/  Stanley J. Olander, Jr.
                                       ----------------------------
                                         Stanley J. Olander, Jr.
                                         Chief Financial Officer
                                         Cornerstone Realty Income Trust, Inc.
Index to Exhibits

Exhibit No.                         Exhibit
-----------                         -------

     99              Press Release dated March 13, 2000  announcing  the sale by
                     Cornerstone  Realty  Income  Trust,  Inc.  of 16  apartment
                     communities.