EXHIBIT 99

                      CORNERSTONE REALTY INCOME TRUST, INC.
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                              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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          Cornerstone Closes Sale of 16 Communities for $136.5 Million


         Richmond,  Virginia,  March 13, 2000 - Cornerstone  Realty Income Trust
(NYSE:TCR)  today  announced  that on March 10,  2000 they closed the sale of 16
communities containing 3,609 apartment homes for $136.5 Million.

         Cornerstone  will use the net sale  proceeds to pay down the  Company's
existing  variable  rate line of credit and to fund a $35 million  1031 tax free
exchange qualified investment. This transaction will bring Cornerstone's debt to
total  market  capitalization  to less than 20%.  In  addition,  over 70% of the
company's  total  debt has  average  maturities  exceeding  five years and fixed
interest rates averaging approximately 7%.

         The sale  will  also  allow  Cornerstone  to  aggressively  pursue  its
previously announced stock repurchase program. The Company has purchased to date
approximately $12 million of its planned $50 million stock repurchase program.

         Certain   statements   contained  herein  constitute   "forward-looking
statements"  within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking  statements involve known and unknown
risks,  uncertainties  and other  factors  that may cause  the  future  results,
performance or achievements  of the Company to be materially  different from any
forward-looking  statements.  Although the Company expects the events  described
above to occur as indicated,  they are subject to certain conditions which could
delay or change  their  completion,  or result in the sale and other  events not
occurring at all.

         Cornerstone   Realty  Income  Trust,   Inc.  is  a  fully   integrated,
self-managed  and  self-advised  real estate company that has operated as a REIT
since 1993. The Company  focuses on the ownership and management of multi-family
properties  in select  markets in  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina,
Georgia  and  Texas.  Currently,  the  Company  currently  owns  71  multifamily
properties containing 17,356 apartment homes. For additional  information please
contact Glade M. Knight,  Chairman and Chief Executive  Officer,  S. J. Olander,
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, David S. McKenney,  Senior
Vice  President  of  Corporate  Services  or Krissy  Gathright,  Assistant  Vice
President  of  Corporate  Services at (804)  643-1761.  Further  information  on
Cornerstone  may be found  on our web  site at:  HTTP://WWW.CORNERSTONEREIT.COM.
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