[L.P. MARTIN & COMPANY LETTERHEAD]

                                                             Exhibit 23.1

                        Consent of Independent Auditors'

The Board of Directors
Cornerstone Realty Income Trust, Inc.
Richmond, Virginia

        We consent to the use of our reports dated June 21, 1996 with respect
to the statements of income and direct operating expenses exclusive of items
not comparable to the proposed future operations of the property Lexington Tower
Apartments for the year ended December 31, 1995, and the three month period
ended March 31, 1996, for inclusion in a form 8K filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission by Cornerstone Realty Income Trust, Inc., and to the
reference to our firm under the heading "Expert" therein.

Richmond, Virginia
June 21, 1996                                 /s/ L.P. Martin & Co., P.C.