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):  February 28, 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  February  28,  2000  announcing  the
                     entering into of an agreement by Cornerstone  Realty Income
                     Trust, Inc. to sell 16 apartment communities.





<PAGE>



Item 5.           Other Events

         On  February  28,  2000,   Cornerstone   Realty  Income   Trust,   Inc.
("Cornerstone")  issued a Press Release  (attached as an Exhibit to this Report)
announcing that it had entered into an agreement under which  Cornerstone  would
sell 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:  February 28, 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  February  28,  2000  announcing  the
                     entering into of an agreement by Cornerstone  Realty Income
                     Trust, Inc. to sell 16 apartment communities.
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2864}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CORNERSTONE REALTY INCOME TRUST INC", "cik": "0000854875", "assigned-sic": "6798", "irs-number": "541589139", "state-of-incorporation": "VA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-12875", "film-number": "554752"}, "business-address": {"street1": "306 E MAIN ST", "city": "RICHMOND", "state": "VA", "zip": "23219", "phone": "8046431761"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "306 E MAIN ST", "city": "RICHMOND", "state": "VA", "zip": "23219"}}
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):  February 28, 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  February  28,  2000  announcing  the
                     entering into of an agreement by Cornerstone  Realty Income
                     Trust, Inc. to sell 16 apartment communities.
Item 5.           Other Events

         On  February  28,  2000,   Cornerstone   Realty  Income   Trust,   Inc.
("Cornerstone")  issued a Press Release  (attached as an Exhibit to this Report)
announcing that it had entered into an agreement under which  Cornerstone  would
sell 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:  February 28, 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  February  28,  2000  announcing  the
                     entering into of an agreement by Cornerstone  Realty Income
                     Trust, Inc. to sell 16 apartment communities.