National Health Realty 8-K NHR to pay 33.25 cent regular dividend and 10 cent special dividend

Exhibit 99

For Release:  Dec. 11, 2006

Contact: Gerald Coggin, Senior VP Corporate Relations

Phone: (615) 890-2020

NHR to pay 33.25 cent regular dividend and 10 cent special dividend

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- National Health Realty, Inc., (AMEX: NHR) a real estate investment trust, announced today that it will pay a fourth quarter regular dividend of 33.25 cents per share and a special dividend of 10 cents per share to shareholders of record on Dec. 29 and payable on Jan. 16, 2007.

Additional information including NHR’s most recent press releases may be obtained on NHR’s web site atwww.nationalhealthrealty.com.  The company trades on the American Stock Exchange with the symbol NHR.

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. NHR cautions investors that any forward-looking statements made involve risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. All forward-looking statements represent NHR’s best judgment as of the date of this release.

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