APPLE RESIDENTIAL INCOME TRUST INC
S-8, 1998-09-30
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS
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   As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 29, 1998

================================================================================
                                            Registration No. 333-_______________

                                  UNITED STATES

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                 --------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                 --------------

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

                  Virginia                                      54-1816010
         (State or other jurisdiction                        (I.R.S. Employer
      of incorporation or organization)                      Identification No.)

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

                      APPLE RESIDENTIAL INCOME TRUST, INC.
                               1996 INCENTIVE PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

            Glade M. Knight                  Copy to: Martin B. Richards, Esq.  
         306 East Main Street               McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe, LLP
       Richmond, Virginia 23219                       One James Center          
       Telephone: (804) 643-1761                  Richmond, Virginia 23219      
 (Name, address and telephone number,             Telephone: (804) 775-1029     
 including area code, of agent for service)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
============================================================================================================
       Title of                        Proposed Maximum      Proposed Maximum
     Securities to     Amount to be        Offering            Aggregate             Amount of
     be Registered      Registered     Price Per Share (1)   Offering Price (1)   Registration Fee
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     <S>             <C>                   <C>                <C>                   <C>  
       Common
       Shares         2,214,542 shares      $10                $22,145,420           $6532.90
============================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1) Estimated  solely for the purpose of determining  the  registration  fee and
based,  pursuant to Rule 457(a) under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  on the most
recent price at which shares were sold to the public.


<PAGE>



                                   PROSPECTUS

                      APPLE RESIDENTIAL INCOME TRUST, INC.
                               1996 INCENTIVE PLAN

                                ----------------



         This document  provides  information  about the 1996  Incentive Plan of
Apple Residential  Income Trust,  Inc. (the "Company"),  pursuant to which up to
2,214,542  shares of the  Company's  common  stock,  no par value  (the  "Common
Stock"), may be issued to eligible employees of the Company.

                                ----------------


                 THIS DOCUMENT CONSTITUTES PART OF A PROSPECTUS
                  COVERING SECURITIES THAT HAVE BEEN REGISTERED
                        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                -----------------



         No  person  is  authorized  to  give  any   information   or  make  any
representation in connection with the offer contained in this Prospectus,  other
than those contained  herein.  Any information or  representation  not contained
herein  must not be relied upon as having been so  authorized.  This  Prospectus
does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation  of an offer to buy, the
securities  covered by this  Prospectus  in any State or other  jurisdiction  in
which,  or to any  person  to  whom,  it is  unlawful  to make  such an offer or
solicitation.  Neither  the  delivery  of  this  Prospectus  nor  any  sales  or
solicitations  hereunder  shall under any  circumstances  create any implication
that  there has been no  change in the  affairs  of the  Company  since the date
hereof.

               The date of this Prospectus is September 29, 1998.


<PAGE>




                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            PAGE

GENERAL INFORMATION............................................................3

SHARES AVAILABLE FOR ISSUANCE..................................................3

ELIGIBILITY....................................................................3

TERMS OF INCENTIVE AWARDS......................................................4
         Restricted Stock......................................................4
         Options.............................................................  4
         Transferability of Incentive Awards...................................4
         Change of Control.....................................................5

FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES................................................5
         For Participants......................................................5
         For the Company.......................................................6

RESTRICTIONS ON RESALE.........................................................6

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.........................................................7


                                       2


<PAGE>



                               GENERAL INFORMATION

         The Board of  Directors  (the  "Board")  of the Company has adopted the
1996  Incentive  Plan,  as amended  and  restated  (the  "Plan"),  which  became
effective  on October  17,  1996.  The Plan is intended to further the long term
stability and financial  success of the Company by attracting  and retaining key
employees of the Company and its affiliates through the use of stock incentives.
Incentive  awards under the Plan may be in the form of restricted stock or stock
options.  The Plan will terminate on October 17, 2006 unless earlier  terminated
upon the adoption of a resolution by the Board.

         The Plan is administered  by a Committee (the  "Committee") of not less
than two members  appointed by the Board. The Board has the power at any time to
fill vacancies in the Committee,  and may appoint members previously  appointed.
Insofar as it is necessary to satisfy Rule 16b-3 under the  Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934  ("Rule  16b-3"),  all  members of the  Committee  are  non-employee
directors of the Company. The Committee has the power and complete discretion to
determine when to grant incentive awards,  which eligible employees will receive
awards,  whether the award will be an option or restricted stock, and the number
of shares attached to each incentive award. The Committee may impose  conditions
on the  exercise  of  options,  and  may  impose  such  other  restrictions  and
requirements as it may deem  appropriate with respect to grants made to eligible
employees.  The Board may suspend or discontinue the Plan or revise or amend the
Plan in any manner,  except that  without  approval of the  shareholders  of the
Company,  no revision or amendment may increase the number of shares  subject to
the Plan, materially modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation
in the Plan, or materially  increase the benefits accruing to participants under
the Plan.

         The Plan is not subject to any  provisions  of the Employee  Retirement
Income  Security Act of 1974 nor is the Plan  qualified  under Section 401(a) of
the Internal Revenue Code (the "Tax Code").

         Statements  contained in this  Prospectus  as to the  provisions of the
Plan are  intended  to be  general in nature  and may not in every  instance  be
complete.  Reference  is made to the  Plan,  a copy of which  will be  provided,
without  charge,  upon written or oral request to the Company's  Chief Financial
Officer.  (See "Additional  Information.") The statements in this Prospectus are
qualified in all respects by reference to the Plan.

                          SHARES AVAILABLE FOR ISSUANCE

         A total of up to  2,214,542  shares of  Common  Stock is  reserved  for
issuance  under the Plan.  Shares  allocable to options that expire or otherwise
terminate  unexercised may again be subjected to an award.  The number of shares
available  for an award  under  the Plan  will  include  the  number  of  shares
surrendered  by an optionee or retained by the Company in payment of  applicable
withholding  taxes.  Incentive  awards may be granted under the Plan conditioned
upon the  surrender  for  cancellation  of an option  granted  under an existing
incentive award. In the event of a stock dividend, stock split or combination of
shares,   recapitalization,   merger  or  other  similar   change,   appropriate
adjustments  will be made in the  number and kind of shares  issuable  under the
Plan, the number and kind of shares to be issued under outstanding  awards,  the
exercise price of options and other relevant provisions.

                                   ELIGIBILITY

         Options and  restricted  stock may be granted under the Plan to Company
employees who are determined by the Committee to hold positions with  management
responsibilities with the Company (or any parent or subsidiary of the Company).


                                       3


<PAGE>



                            TERMS OF INCENTIVE AWARDS

RESTRICTED STOCK

         Restricted  stock  issued  pursuant  to  the  Plan  is  subject  to the
following general restrictions: (i) none of such shares may be sold, assigned or
transferred  within a six-month  period  beginning on the date of grant, nor may
they be pledged or  hypothecated  within  that  six-month  period if such action
would be treated as a sale under  Rule  16b-3,  (ii) none of such  shares may be
sold, assigned, transferred,  pledged or hypothecated or otherwise encumbered or
disposed  of until the  restrictions  on such  shares  shall have lapsed or been
removed under the  provisions  of the Plan,  and (iii) if a holder of restricted
stock ceases to be employed by the Company or a parent or subsidiary thereof, he
will forfeit any shares of restricted stock on which the  restrictions  have not
lapsed or been otherwise removed.

         The  Committee  will  establish  as to each share of  restricted  stock
issued under the Plan the terms and conditions  upon which the  restrictions  on
such  shares  shall  lapse.  Such  terms and  conditions  may  include,  without
limitation, the lapsing of such restrictions at the end of a specified period of
time, as a result of the  disability,  death or retirement of the participant or
as a result of the occurrence of a Change in Control. In addition, the Committee
may at any time, in its sole discretion, accelerate the time at which any or all
restrictions will lapse or remove any and all such restrictions.

         Restricted  stock may be awarded  by the  Committee  in its  discretion
without  cash  consideration.  During  the period of  restriction,  participants
holding shares of restricted  stock may exercise full voting rights with respect
to  those  shares  and  are  entitled  to  receive  all   dividends   and  other
distributions paid with respect to those shares.

OPTIONS

         Options to purchase  Common Stock  granted to employees  under the Plan
shall be  nonstatutory  stock  options,  which do not qualify for  favorable tax
treatment  under  Section 422 of the Tax Code.  The exercise  price of shares of
Company  Stock covered by an option may not be less than 100% of the fair market
value of such shares on the date of grant.

         Options  may be  exercised  in whole or in part at such times as may be
determined by the Committee and specified in the option agreements,  except that
no option  may be  exercised  earlier  than six  months  after the date of grant
(except in case of death or  disability),  and no option may be exercised  after
the  first  to  occur of (i) 10  years  from  the  date of  grant,  (ii) 60 days
following the optionee's  termination of employment with the Company for reasons
other than death or disability, or (iii) 180 days following the optionee's death
or disability.

         The  participant  does  not  pay  any  monetary  consideration  for the
granting of the options.  The Plan  provides  that the exercise  price of shares
covered by an option shall be not less than the fair market value of such shares
on the date of grant. The exercise price of an option may be paid in cash or, if
the terms of the option so permit,  (i) by  delivery to the Company of shares of
Common Stock (valued at fair market value on the date of exercise) in the amount
necessary to pay the exercise  price,  or (ii) by delivery of an exercise notice
together with  irrevocable  instructions to a broker to promptly  deliver to the
Company the amount  necessary to pay the exercise price (and, if required by the
Committee,  applicable  withholding  taxes) out of the proceeds from the sale of
option shares or a loan secured by such option  shares,  or (iii) by delivery of
an interest  bearing  recourse  promissory  note.  At the time of  exercise,  an
optionee must make  arrangements  satisfactory to the Company for the payment of
all  applicable  withholding  taxes.  If the option  agreement so  provides,  an
optionee may elect to deliver or have withheld a sufficient  number of shares of
Common Stock to satisfy the Company's  tax  withholding  obligations  subject to
such procedural requirements as may be necessary to comply with Rule 16b-3 under
the Exchange Act. The Committee has sole discretion to approve or disapprove any
such election. No fees,  commissions or other charges are incurred upon exercise
of an option.


                                       4


<PAGE>



TRANSFERABILITY OF INCENTIVE AWARDS

         Options are not  transferable  except by will or by the laws of descent
and  distribution  or, if  permitted  by Rule  16b-3,  pursuant  to a  Qualified
Domestic Relations Order (as defined in Tax Code Section 414(p)),  and generally
are  exercisable  during the lifetime of the optionee only by such optionee,  or
his  guardian  or legal  representative.  No shares of  restricted  stock may be
assigned,  transferred,  pledged or hypothecated  until the restrictions on such
shares  have  lapsed  or been  removed  by the  Committee.  Upon the  death of a
participant,  his personal representative or beneficiary may exercise his rights
under the Plan.  The Plan  contains no provision  that permits  participants  to
withdraw from the Plan and terminate their interests therein.

CHANGE OF CONTROL

         The  Committee  may,  in its  discretion,  provide  that stock  options
granted to employees  under the Plan become fully  exercisable  upon a Change of
Control,  notwithstanding other conditions on exercisability in the stock option
agreement.  For purposes of the Plan, a "Change of Control"  occurs:  (i) when a
person  (or group of  persons  acting in  concert)  acquires  20% or more of the
outstanding  Common  Stock of the  Company,  (ii) when  there is a change in the
composition  of a  majority  of the  Board  when  compared  with  those  who are
currently  serving and any new members whose  nomination or election is approved
by a  majority  of the  current  Board,  or (iii) when the  shareholders  of the
Company approve a  reorganization,  merger or consolidation or other transaction
which  results in the  shareholders  of the  Company  prior to such  transaction
owning  50% or less of the  corporation  resulting  from the  transaction,  or a
liquidation  or  dissolution  of the Company.  Exceptions  are made to the first
change of control  definition when (i) the acquiror  obtains its shares directly
from the Company,  (ii) the acquiror is the Company,  a Company  subsidiary or a
Company  benefit plan,  or (iii) the acquiror is a corporation  more than 50% of
which  immediately  after such acquisition is owned by persons who were formerly
the  shareholders of the Company and such persons hold shares in the acquiror in
substantially the same proportion as they previously held in the Company.

         The Plan also  permits the  Committee  to take such other  actions with
respect to outstanding  incentive  awards as the Committee deems  appropriate in
the event of a Change of Control.


                         FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

         The following is a summary of the Federal  income tax  consequences  to
the Company and participants  under the Plan. It is general and does not purport
to be complete. There may also be applicable state and local taxes. In addition,
in some cases it may be  important  to  consider  the  effect,  if any, of gift,
estate and inheritance taxes.

         NO  REPRESENTATION  RESPECTING THE TAX TREATMENT OF ANY INCENTIVE AWARD
HAS BEEN MADE TO A PLAN  PARTICIPANT.  PLAN  PARTICIPANTS  ARE URGED TO  CONSULT
THEIR COUNSEL, ACCOUNTANTS, OR OTHER TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES
OF  RESTRICTED  STOCK OR  OPTIONS  GRANTED  TO THEM IN  RELATION  TO  THEIR  OWN
PARTICULAR TAX SITUATION.

FOR PARTICIPANTS

         RESTRICTED  STOCK.  In general,  an employee who has received shares of
restricted  stock will include in gross income as compensation  income an amount
equal to the fair market value of the shares of restricted stock at the time the
restrictions lapse or are removed.  Such amount will be included in the tax year
in which such event occurs.

         NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTIONS. All options granted under the Plan shall be
nonstatutory  in nature and shall not be entitled to special tax treatment under
Tax Code  Section 422.  Under  present  Federal  income tax law and existing and
temporary regulations subject to change at any time:


                                       5
<PAGE>



                  (1)  Generally,  no  taxable  income  will  be  realized  by a
         participant  upon the grant of  nonstatutory  stock  options  under the
         Plan.

                  (2)  Upon  the  exercise  of  nonstatutory  stock  options,  a
         participant  will incur ordinary  income in the year of exercise to the
         extent  that the fair market  value of the Common  Stock on the date of
         exercise exceeds the option price.

         EXERCISE  OF  AN  OPTION  WITH   COMMON   STOCK.   Subject  to  certain
limitations,  a  participant  may pay any or all of the  purchase  price  on the
exercise of a stock  option by the  delivery  of Common  Stock.  Usually  when a
participant delivers shares of Common Stock in satisfaction of all, or any part,
of the purchase  price,  no taxable gain is  recognized on any  appreciation  in
value of the  previously  held Common  Stock.  In other  words,  even though the
delivered  shares are valued at their fair market  value for  purposes of paying
all or part of the option price,  the  participant is generally not taxed on the
difference between the fair market value and the tax basis of the shares.

         TAX BASIS OF COMMON  STOCK  RECEIVED  UPON  EXERCISE.  Ordinary  income
recognized  upon  receipt  of Common  Stock  under the Plan  will  increase  the
participant's  tax  basis for the  purpose  of  determining  gain or loss on the
subsequent  sale or  exchange  of the  Common  Stock.  Special  rules  apply  to
determine  the basis of shares of Common Stock  received  upon the exercise of a
stock option by the delivery of shares of previously owned Common Stock.

FOR THE COMPANY

         The Company usually will be entitled to a business expense deduction at
the time and in the amount that the  participant  recognizes  ordinary income in
connection  with an  incentive  award.  This  usually  occurs  upon the lapse or
removal  of the  restrictions  on  restricted  stock  or upon  the  exercise  of
nonstatutory  options.  In some cases,  such as the  exercise of a  nonstatutory
option,  the Company's  deduction is contingent  upon the Company's  meeting tax
withholding requirements.

         There can be  circumstances in which the Company may not be entitled to
a deduction  for certain  transfers of Common Stock or payments to a participant
upon the exercise of an incentive award that has been accelerated as a result of
a Change of Control.  The Tax Code generally imposes a $1,000,000  limitation on
the annual  compensation  deduction  allowable to a publicly held corporation in
respect  of its chief  executive  officer  and its other four most  highly  paid
officers (including any deduction with respect to the exercise of a nonstatutory
stock   option).   An  exception  is  provided  for  certain   performance-based
compensation if certain shareholder  approval and outside director  requirements
are  satisfied.



                             RESTRICTIONS ON RESALE

         All shares of  restricted  stock  issued  pursuant  to the Plan will be
subject to restrictions on resale as discussed above.

         The Plan  contains  no  restrictions  on the  resale  of  Common  Stock
received upon exercise of a stock option.  However,  officer optionees should be
aware that they may be insiders under Section 16(b) of the  Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), in which case they must pay to the
Company any profit made from a purchase  and sale,  or a sale and  purchase,  of
Common Stock within a six-month  period.  Transactions  subject to Section 16(b)
may include the award,  receipt and vesting of restricted stock and the receipt,
vesting and exercise of stock options, the delivery or retention of Common Stock
to pay the exercise price of options or to satisfy tax withholding  obligations,
and the resale of Common Stock received from the Company.  Transactions  between
the participant and the Company, in which no third parties are involved,  may be
eligible  for  exemption   pursuant  to  Rule  16b-3  under  the  Exchange  Act.
Participants  who have questions  regarding the  applicability of Section 16 are
encouraged to contact the Company's Chief Financial Officer.



                                       6
<PAGE>


         Also,  the  securities  laws  impose  certain  limitations  on sales by
persons  who are  affiliates  of the  Company,  as defined in Rule 144 under the
Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended (the  "Securities  Act").  An affiliate may
resell such Common Stock only  pursuant to an effective  registration  statement
under the  Securities Act or an exemption  from such  registration,  such as the
exemption  provided  by Rule 144 under the  Securities  Act.  The Company has no
obligation  to  register  for  resale  any shares of Common  Stock  acquired  by
participants  and this Prospectus is not available to a participant for reoffers
or resales.

         PLAN  PARTICIPANTS  ARE URGED TO CONSULT WITH THEIR BROKERS,  FINANCIAL
ADVISERS,  AND SECURITIES COUNSEL TO DETERMINE THEIR PARTICULAR STATUS UNDER THE
SECURITIES  LAWS BEFORE  EFFECTING  ANY RESALES OF THE  COMPANY'S  COMMON  STOCK
RECEIVED PURSUANT TO THE PLAN.

                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

         The Company hereby  incorporates  by reference the following  documents
filed  or  to  be  filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (the
"Commission");

         (a)      the  Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
                  ended December 31, 1997;

         (b)      all  other  reports  filed  with the  Commission  pursuant  to
                  Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, since December 31,
                  1997, including:  the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q
                  filed May 14,  1998 and August  14,  1998,  and the  Company's
                  Reports  of  Current  Events  on Form  8-K or  8-K/A  filed on
                  January 30, 1998, February, 18, 1998, February 23, 1998, April
                  15, 1998,  April 17, 1998,  April 22, 1998,  May 13, 1998, May
                  22, 1998, June 10, 1998, July 7, 1998, July 16 , 1998,  August
                  3, 1998, and August 4, 1998;

         (c)      the  Company's  Registration  Statement  on Form 8-A under the
                  Exchange Act filed on April 3, 1998 with the Commission; and

         (d)      from  the  date  of  filing  such  documents,   all  documents
                  subsequently  filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a),
                  13(c),  14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act,  prior to the filing
                  of  a  post-effective   amendment  which  indicates  that  all
                  securities  offered  have been sold or which  deregisters  all
                  such securities then remaining unsold.

         Upon  oral  or  written   request,   the  Company  will  provide  to  a
participant,  without charge,  copies of (i) any and all of the information that
has been  incorporated  by reference in this  document,  (ii) the Company's most
recent  annual  report  to  shareholders,  and (iii) if the  participant  is not
otherwise  receiving  such  material,  all reports,  proxy  statements and other
communications  distributed by the Company to its shareholders  generally.  Such
requests  should be directed to the  Company's  Chief  Financial  Officer at the
Company's business address:  306 East Main Street,  Richmond,  Virginia,  23219,
telephone number (804) 643-1761.

         Participants  may contact the Company's Chief Financial  Officer at the
address and telephone number listed above to obtain additional information about
the Plan and its administrators.

         The Company may distribute  from time to time to  participants  reports
showing the status of their grants under the Plan.


                                       7


<PAGE>



           PART II. INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         Apple   Residential   Income  Trust,   Inc.  (the   "Company")   hereby
incorporates  by  reference  into  this  Registration  Statement  the  following
documents which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission"):

         (a) the Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1997;

         (b) all other  reports  filed with the  Commission  pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), since December 31, 1997,  including:  the Company's  Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q filed May 14, 1998 and August 14, 1998,  and the Company's  Reports of
Current  Events on Form 8-K or 8-K/A filed on January  30,  1998,  February  18,
1998, February 23, 1998, April 15, 1998, April 17, 1998, April 22, 1998, May 13,
1998, May 22, 1998, June 10, 1998, July 7, 1998, July 16, 1998,  August 3, 1998,
and August 4, 1998; and

         (c) the  description  of the Company's  Common Shares  appearing in its
Registration  Statement on Form 8-A filed with the  Commission  on April 3, 1993
(No. 0-23983).

         All documents  subsequently  filed by the Company  pursuant to Sections
13(a),  13(c),  14 and  15(d) of the  Exchange  Act,  prior to the  filing  of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have
been sold or which deregisters all such securities then remaining unsold,  shall
be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration  Statement and to
be part hereof from the respective dates of filing of such documents.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

         Not applicable.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

         Not applicable.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

         Article 10 of the Virginia Stock Corporation Act (the "Act") allows, in
general, for indemnification,  in certain circumstances, by a corporation of any
person  threatened  with or made a party to any action,  suit or  proceeding  by
reason of the fact that he or she is, or was, a director,  officer,  employee or
agent of such corporation.  Indemnification is also authorized with respect to a
criminal act or proceeding  where the person had no reasonable  cause to believe
that his or her conduct was unlawful.  Article 9 of the Act provides limitations
on  damages  payable  by  officers  and  directors,  except in cases of  willful
misconduct  or  knowing  violation  of  criminal  law or any  federal  or  state
securities laws.

         Article VI of the Company's  Articles of Incorporation (the "Articles")
provides that in every  instance in which the Act, and any  amendments  thereto,
permits the limitation or elimination of liability of directors or officers of a
corporation to the corporation or its  shareholders,  the directors and officers
of the Company shall not be liable to the Company or its shareholders.

         The Articles provide for mandatory  indemnification  of any individual
who is, was or is  threatened  to be made a party to a  proceeding  (including a
proceeding  by or in  the  right  of  the  Company  or by or on  behalf  of  its
shareholders)  because  such  individual  is or was a director or officer of the
Company  or of any legal  entity  controlled  by the  company  or  because  such
individual is or was a fiduciary of any employee benefit plan established at the
direction  of the  Company,  against all  liabilities  and  reasonable  expenses
incurred  on account  of the  proceeding,  provided  that the  directors  of the
Company (excluding the indemnified party) determine in good faith that the


                                      II-1


<PAGE>

director's or officer's course of conduct which caused the loss or liability was
undertaken in good faith within what he  reasonably  believed to be the scope of
his authority  and for a purpose which he reasonably  believed to be in the best
interests  of the  Company or its  shareholders,  except  such  liabilities  and
expenses as are incurred because of such individual's  willful  misconduct,  bad
faith,  negligence,  reckless  disregard  of duties or violation of the criminal
law.

         The Company  maintains a standard  policy of officers'  and  directors'
liability  insurance.  The  Company  is  authorized  to  purchase  and  maintain
insurance against any liability it may have under the indemnification provisions
of the  Articles  or to protect  any of the  persons  named  above  against  any
liability arising from their service to the Company or any other legal entity at
the request of the  Company,  regardless  of the  Company's  power to  indemnify
against such liability.

ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED

        Not applicable.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number                         Description

4.1               Articles of Incorporation of Apple  Residential  Income Trust,
                  Inc.  (Incorporated  by reference to Exhibits 3.1, 3.3 and 3.4
                  included in the  Registrant's  Registration  Statement on Form
                  S-11; File No. 333-10635).

4.2               Amended and Restated Bylaws of Apple Residential Income Trust,
                  Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.5 included in the
                  Registrant's  Registration  Statement  on Form S-11;  File No.
                  333-10635).

5                 Opinion  of  McGuire,  Woods,  Battle &  Boothe  LLP as to the
                  legality of the securities being registered.

23.1              Consent of McGuire,  Woods,  Battle & Boothe LLP  (included as
                  part of Exhibit 5).

23.2              Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

23.3              Consent of L.P. Martin & Company, P.C.

24.1              Power of Attorney of Glade M. Knight.

24.2              Power of Attorney of Stanley J. Olander, Jr.

24.3              Power of Attorney of Lisa B. Kern.

24.4              Power of Attorney of Penelope W. Kyle.

24.5              Power of Attorney of Bruce H. Matson

99                Apple Residential Income Trust, Inc. 1996 Incentive Plan.

ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS

         The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

         (a) (1) To file,  during any period in which  offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:


                                      II-2


<PAGE>


                 (i)     To include any prospectus  required by Section 10(a)(3)
                         of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act");

                 (ii)    To  reflect  in the  prospectus  any  facts  or  events
                         arising  after the effective  date of the  registration
                         statement (or the most recent post-effective  amendment
                         thereof)  which,  individually  or  in  the  aggregate,
                         represent a fundamental  change in the  information set
                         forth in the registration statement;

                 (iii)   To include any material information with respect to the
                         plan of  distribution  not previously  disclosed in the
                         registration  statement or any material  change to such
                         information in the registration statement;

                 Provided,  however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do
not  apply  if the  information  required  to be  included  in a  post-effective
amendment by those  paragraphs  is contained in periodic  reports  filed with or
furnished to the Commission by the registrant  pursuant to Section 13 or Section
15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration
statement.

             (2) That,  for the purpose of determining  any liability  under the
Securities Act, each such  post-effective  amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration  statement  relating to the  securities  offered  therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

             (3) To  remove  from  registration  by  means  of a  post-effective
amendment  any of the  securities  being  registered  which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

         (b) That,  for  purposes  of  determining   any  liability   under  the
Securities  Act,  each  filing of the  registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to
Section  13(a) or Section  15(d) of the  Exchange  Act that is  incorporated  by
reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities  offered therein,  and the offering of such
securities  at that time shall be deemed to be the  initial  bona fide  offering
thereof.

         (c) Insofar  as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising  under  the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors,  officers and controlling  persons
of the  registrant  pursuant to the  foregoing  provisions,  or  otherwise,  the
registrant  has  been  advised  that  in  the  opinion  of the  Commission  such
indemnification  is  against  public  policy  as  expressed  in the  Act and is,
therefore,  unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities  (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director,  officer or  controlling  person of the registrant in the
successful  defense of any  action,  suit or  proceeding)  is  asserted  by such
director,  officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification  by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.


                                      II-3

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act, the  Registrant
certifies  that it has  reasonable  grounds to believe  that it meets all of the
requirements  for  filing  on Form S-8 and has  duly  caused  this  Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the City of Richmond,  Commonwealth of Virginia, on September 29,
1998.

APPLE RESIDENTIAL INCOME TRUST, INC.

By:  /s/ Glade M. Knight
     --------------------------------------------
         Glade M. Knight, Chief Executive Officer

         Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act, this  Registration
Statement has been signed by the following  persons in the capacities and on the
date indicated.

         Signature                      Capacities                    Date
         ---------                      ----------                    ----

/s/* Glade M. Knight             Director, President, and     September 29, 1998
- -----------------------------    Chief Executive Officer
Glade M. Knight


/s/*                             Vice President,              September 29, 1998
- -----------------------------    Secretary and Chief
Stanley J. Olander, Jr.          Financial Officer


/s/*                             Director                     September 29, 1998
- -----------------------------
Lisa B. Kern


/s/*                             Director                     September 29, 1998
- -----------------------------
Penelope W. Kyle


                                 Director                     September 29, 1998
- -----------------------------
Bruce H. Matson




*By:  /s/ Glade M. Knight
- -------------------------------------------
         Glade M. Knight,
         Attorney-in-Fact for the above-named persons


                                      II-4


<PAGE>



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit                                                             Sequentially
Number                      Description                               Numbered 
- ------                      -----------                                Page
                                                                    ------------
4.1              Articles of Incorporation of  Apple
                 Residential Income Trust, Inc.
                 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibits 3.1,
                 3.3 and 3.4  included  in the Registrant's
                 Registration  Statement on Form S-11; File
                 No. 333-10635).

4.2              Bylaws of Apple  Residential  Income Trust,
                 Inc.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                 3.5    included    in   the    Registrant's
                 Registration  Statement on Form S-11;  File
                 No. 333-10635).

5                Opinion of McGuire,  Woods, Battle & Boothe
                 LLP as to the  legality  of the  securities
                 being registered.

23.1             Consent of McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe
                 LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5).

23.2             Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

23.3             Consent of L.P. Martin & Company, P.C.

24.1             Power of Attorney of Glade M. Knight.

24.2             Power of  Attorney  of Stanley J.  Olander,
                 Jr.

24.3             Power of Attorney of Lisa B. Kern.

24.4             Power of Attorney of Penelope W. Kyle.

24.5             Power of Attorney of Bruce H. Matson

99               Apple Residential Income Trust, Inc. 1996
                 Incentive Plan.


                           II-5






                                                                       EXHIBIT 5


                                              September 29, 1998

Board of Directors
Apple Residential Income Trust, Inc.
306 East Main Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219


Dear Sirs:

         We have acted as counsel to Apple  Residential  Income Trust, Inc. (the
"Company"),  a Virginia  corporation,  in connection with the preparation of the
registration  statement on Form S-8,  pertaining to the Apple Residential Income
Trust,  Inc.  1996  Incentive  Plan,  to which this  opinion is an exhibit  (the
"Registration Statement"), which is being filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission  under the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"),  for the
registration under the Act of the Common Shares of the Company described in such
Registration  Statement.  Terms not  otherwise  defined  herein  shall  have the
meanings assigned to them in the Registration Statement.

         We  have   reviewed   originals  or  copies  of  (i)  the  Articles  of
Incorporation, as amended,  Bylaws and other corporate documents of the Company,
(ii) certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company, and (iii) the
Registration  Statement and the prospectus  included therein (the "Prospectus").
In addition,  we have reviewed such other documents and have made such legal and
factual  inquiries  as we have deemed  necessary  or  advisable  for purposes of
rendering the opinions set forth below.

         Based upon and subject to the foregoing we are of the opinion that:

         1.    The Company is duly organized and validly existing under the laws
of the Commonwealth of Virginia; and

         2.    The Common Shares  registered  under the  Registration  Statement
have been duly  authorized  and,  when issued and paid for as  described  in the
Registration Statement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

         We hereby  consent to the  filing of this  opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration  Statement.  In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are in
the  category of persons  whose  consent is required by Section 7 of the Act, or
the rules and regulations  promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

                           Very truly yours,




                           /s/ McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe LLP






                                                                    Exhibit 23.2

                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form
S-8 No.  333-00000)  pertaining to the 1996 Incentive Plan of Apple  Residential
Income Trust,  Inc. of our report dated  February 13, 1998,  with respect to the
consolidated  financial  statements  and  schedule of Apple  Residential  Income
Trust,  Inc.  included  in its  Annual  Report  (Form  10-K) for the year  ended
December 31, 1997, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                                          /s/  Ernst & Young LLP


Richmond, Virginia
September 28, 1998







                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.3

                           L.P. MARTIN & COMPANY, P.C.
                               4132 INNSLAKE DRIVE
                           GLEN ALLEN, VIRGINIA 23060
                               PHONE: 804-346-2626
                                FAX: 804-346-9311


                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS



The Board of Directors
Apple Residential Income Trust, Inc.
Richmond, Virginia


     We hereby  consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  of the  following
reports  prepared  by us in two  Registration  Statements  on Form  S-8 of Apple
Residential Income Trust, Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
by Apple  Residential  Income  Trust,  Inc.,  and in the  Prospectus  (including
supplements  thereto)  included  therein  and  to  the  references  to us  under
"Experts" therein:

     (1) Our report dated  December  16, 1997 with  respect to the  statement of
income and direct  operating  expenses  exclusive of items not comparable to the
proposed future  operations of the property  Copper Crossing  Apartments for the
twelve-month  period ended October 31, 1997, (2) our report dated March 25, 1998
with respect to the statement of income and direct operating  expenses exclusive
of items not comparable to the proposed  future  operations of the property Main
Park  Apartments  for the  twelve-month  period ended December 31, 1997, (3) our
report  dated April 6, 1998 with  respect to the  statement of income and direct
operating  expenses  exclusive of items not  comparable  to the proposed  future
operations of the property  Timberglen  Apartments for the  twelve-month  period
ended December 31, 1997, (4) our report dated April 14, 1998 with respect to the
statement  of  income  and  direct  operating  expenses  exclusive  of items not
comparable  to the  proposed  future  operations  of the  property  Copper Ridge
Apartments for the  twelve-month  period ended February 28, 1998, (5) our report
dated May 14, 1998 with respect to the statement of income and direct  operating
expenses  exclusive of items not comparable to the proposed future operations of
the property Bitter Creek Apartments for the twelve-month period ended March 31,
1998, (6) our report dated July 16, 1998 with respect to the statement of income
and direct operating  expenses exclusive of items not comparable to the proposed
future  operations of the property Summer Tree  Apartments for the  twelve-month
period  ended May 31,  1998,  (7) our report dated July 17, 1998 with respect to
the  statement of income and direct  operating  expenses  exclusive of items not
comparable  to the  proposed  future  operations  of the  property  Park Village
Apartments for the twelve-month  period ended May 31, 1998, (8) our report dated
July 21,  1998 with  respect to the  statement  of income  and direct  operating
expenses  exclusive of items not comparable to the proposed future operations of
the property  Cottonwood  Crossing  Apartments for the twelve-month period ended
May 31, 1998, (9) our report dated May 14, 1998 with respect to the statement of
income and direct  operating  expenses  exclusive of items not comparable to the
proposed  future  operations  of the property  Pace's Point  Apartments  for the
twelve-month  period  ended March 31,  1998,  (10) our report dated May 14, 1998
with respect to the statement of income and direct operating  expenses exclusive
of items not comparable to the proposed future operations of the property Pepper
Square  Apartments for the  twelve-month  period ended March 31, 1998,  (11) our
report  dated May 14, 1998 with  respect to the  statement  of income and direct
operating  expenses  exclusive of items not  comparable  to the proposed  future
operations of the property Emerald Oaks Apartments for the  twelve-month  period
ended March 31,  1998,  (12) our report  dated May 14, 1998 with  respect to the
statement  of  income  and  direct  operating  expenses  exclusive  of items not
comparable to the proposed future  operations of the property  Hayden's Crossing
Apartments  for the  twelve-month  period ended March 31, 1998,  (13) our report
dated May 14, 1998 with respect to the statement of income and direct  operating
expenses  exclusive of items not comparable to the proposed future operations of
the property  Newport  Apartments  for the  twelve-month  period ended March 31,
1998,  and (14) our report dated July 15, 1998 with respect to the  statement of
income and direct  operating  expenses  exclusive of items not comparable to the
proposed  future  operations  of the property  Estrada Oaks  Apartments  for the
twelve-month period ended June 30, 1998.

Richmond, Virginia
September 29, 1998                                  /s/ L. P. Martin & Co., P.C.





                                                                    Exhibit 24.1

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Stanley J. Olander, Jr.
his  attorney-in-fact,  to  execute  on his  behalf,  individually  and in  each
capacity stated below, and to file, any documents  referred to below relating to
the registration of all of the common shares of Apple Residential  Income Trust,
Inc. (the "Company")  issuable under or pursuant to the Company's 1996 Incentive
Plan and options  granted  thereunder,  such  documents  being:  a  Registration
Statement  to be  filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission;  such
statements with, or applications to, the regulatory  authorities of any state in
the United  States as may be  necessary  to permit such shares to be offered and
sold in such states;  and any and all amendments to any of the  foregoing,  with
all exhibits and  documents  required to be filed in connection  therewith.  The
undersigned  further  grants  unto said  attorney  full power and  authority  to
perform  each and  every act  necessary  to be done in order to  accomplish  the
foregoing registrations as fully as he himself might do.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has signed this power of attorney
as of the 29th day of September, 1998.



                           /s/ Glade M. Knight
                           --------------------------
                           Glade M. Knight, Director,
                           President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company



                                                                    Exhibit 24.2

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The  undersigned  hereby  constitutes  and appoints Glade M. Knight his
attorney-in-fact,  to execute on his behalf,  individually  and in each capacity
stated  below,  and to file,  any  documents  referred to below  relating to the
registration of all of the common shares of Apple Residential Income Trust, Inc.
(the "Company")  issuable under or pursuant to the Company's 1996 Incentive Plan
and options granted thereunder,  such documents being: a Registration  Statement
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission;  such statements with,
or applications to, the regulatory authorities of any state in the United States
as may be necessary to permit such shares to be offered and sold in such states;
and any and all  amendments  to any of the  foregoing,  with  all  exhibits  and
documents required to be filed in connection therewith.  The undersigned further
grants unto said attorney full power and authority to perform each and every act
necessary to be done in order to accomplish the foregoing registrations as fully
as he himself might do.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has signed this power of attorney
as of the 29th day of September, 1998.


                /s/ Stanley J. Olander, Jr.
                -------------------------------------------------
                Stanley J. Olander, Jr., Chief Financial Officer
                of the Company


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Glade M. Knight
and Stanley J. Olander, Jr., either of whom may act as her attorney-in-fact,  to
execute on her behalf,  individually  and in each capacity stated below,  and to
file, any documents referred to below relating to the registration of all of the
common shares of Apple Residential  Income Trust, Inc. (the "Company")  issuable
under or pursuant  to the  Company's  1996  Incentive  Plan and options  granted
thereunder,  such documents being: a Registration Statement to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission;  such statements  with, or applications to,
the regulatory authorities of any state in the United States as may be necessary
to permit  such shares to be offered  and sold in such  states;  and any and all
amendments to any of the foregoing,  with all exhibits and documents required to
be filed in  connection  therewith.  The  undersigned  further  grants unto said
attorneys  and each of them full power and  authority  to perform each and every
act necessary to be done in order to accomplish the foregoing  registrations  as
fully as she herself might do.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has signed this power of attorney
as of the 28th day of September, 1998.


                            /s/ Lisa B. Kern
                            -------------------------
                             Lisa B. Kern, Director
                             of the Company



                                                                    Exhibit 24.4

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Glade M. Knight
and Stanley J. Olander, Jr., either of whom may act as her attorney-in-fact,  to
execute on her behalf,  individually  and in each capacity stated below,  and to
file, any documents referred to below relating to the registration of all of the
common shares of Apple Residential  Income Trust, Inc. (the "Company")  issuable
under or pursuant  to the  Company's  1996  Incentive  Plan and options  granted
thereunder,  such documents being: a Registration Statement to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission;  such statements  with, or applications to,
the regulatory authorities of any state in the United States as may be necessary
to permit  such shares to be offered  and sold in such  states;  and any and all
amendments to any of the foregoing,  with all exhibits and documents required to
be filed in  connection  therewith.  The  undersigned  further  grants unto said
attorneys  and each of them full power and  authority  to perform each and every
act necessary to be done in order to accomplish the foregoing  registrations  as
fully as she herself might do.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has signed this power of attorney
as of the 28th day of September, 1998.


 
                           /s/ Penelope W. Kyle
                           --------------------------
                           Penelope W. Kyle, Director
                           of the Company



                                                                    Exhibit 24.5

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Glade M. Knight
and Stanley J. Olander, Jr., either of whom may act as his attorney-in-fact,  to
execute on his behalf,  individually  and in each capacity stated below,  and to
file, any documents referred to below relating to the registration of all of the
common shares of Apple Residential  Income Trust, Inc. (the "Company")  issuable
under or pursuant  to the  Company's  1996  Incentive  Plan and options  granted
thereunder,  such documents being: a Registration Statement to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission;  such statements  with, or applications to,
the regulatory authorities of any state in the United States as may be necessary
to permit  such shares to be offered  and sold in such  states;  and any and all
amendments to any of the foregoing,  with all exhibits and documents required to
be filed in  connection  therewith.  The  undersigned  further  grants unto said
attorneys  and each of them full power and  authority  to perform each and every
act necessary to be done in order to accomplish the foregoing  registrations  as
fully as he himself might do.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has signed this power of attorney
as of the _____ day of _____________, 1998.


                           -------------------------
                           Bruce H. Matson, Director
                           of the Company






                                                                      Exhibit 99

                      APPLE RESIDENTIAL INCOME TRUST, INC.
                               1996 INCENTIVE PLAN

























                                                      Effective October 17, 1996

<PAGE>

                      APPLE RESIDENTIAL INCOME TRUST, INC.
                               1996 INCENTIVE PLAN

         1. PURPOSE.  The purpose of this Apple  Residential  Income Trust, Inc.
1996  Incentive  Plan (the  "Plan") is to further  the long term  stability  and
financial  success of Apple  Residential  Income Trust,  Inc. (the "Company") by
attracting and retaining key employees of the Company and its affiliates through
the use of stock incentives. It is believed that ownership of Company Stock will
stimulate the efforts of those  employees of the Company and its affiliates upon
whose judgment and interest the Company is and will be largely dependent for the
successful  conduct of its business.  It is also believed that Incentive  Awards
granted to such employees under this Plan will strengthen their desire to remain
with the Company and its affiliates and will further the identification of those
employees'  interests  with  those of the  Company's  shareholders.  The Plan is
intended to conform to the provisions of Securities and Exchange Commission Rule
16b-3.


                                       2
<PAGE>


         2.      DEFINITIONS.  As used in the Plan, the following terms have the
     meanings indicated:

             (a)   "Act" means the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

             (b)   "Applicable  Withholding Taxes" means the aggregate amount of
          federal,  state and local incomeand payroll taxes that the Employer is
          required to withhold in  connection  with any exercise of an Option or
          any lapse of restrictions on Restricted Stock.

              (c) "Board" means the board of directors of the Company.

              (d) "Change of Control" means:

                  (i) The  acquisition,  other  than  from the  Company,  by any
              individual,  entity  or  group  (within  the  meaning  of  Section
              13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Act), of beneficial  ownership (within
              the  meaning  of Rule 13d-3  promulgated  under the Act) of 20% or
              more of either the then outstanding  shares of common stock of the
              Company  or the  combined  voting  power of the  then  outstanding
              voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the
              election of directors,  but  excluding for this purpose,  any such
              acquisition  by the  Company  or any of its  subsidiaries,  or any
              employee  benefit  plan (or  related  trust) of the Company or its
              subsidiaries,  or any corporation with respect to which, following
              such  acquisition,  more  than  50%  of,  respectively,  the  then


                                       3
<PAGE>


              outstanding  shares of common  stock of such  corporation  and the
              combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of
              such  corporation  entitled to vote  generally  in the election of
              directors is then beneficially owned,  directly or indirectly,  by
              the  individuals  and  entities  who were the  beneficial  owners,
              respectively,  of the common  stock and voting  securities  of the
              Company immediately prior to such acquisition in substantially the
              same  proportion  as their  ownership,  immediately  prior to such
              acquisition, of the then outstanding shares of common stock of the
              Company  or the  combined  voting  power of the  then  outstanding
              voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the
              election of directors, as the case may be; or

                  (ii)  Individuals  who, as of the date hereof,  constitute the
              Board (as of the date hereof the "Incumbent  Board") cease for any
              reason to  constitute  at least a majority of the Board,  provided
              that any  individual  becoming a director  subsequent  to the date
              hereof whose  election or nomination for election by the Company's
              shareholders  was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the
              directors  comprising  the Incumbent  Board shall be considered as
              though such individual were a member of the Incumbent  Board,  but
              excluding,  for this purpose,  any such  individual  whose initial
              assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened



                                       4

<PAGE>


              election  contest relating to the election of the Directors of the
              Company (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of  Regulation  14A
              promulgated under the Act); or

                  (iii)  Approval  by  the  shareholders  of  the  Company  of a
              reorganization,  merger  or  consolidation,  in  each  case,  with
              respect  to  which  the  individuals  and  entities  who  were the
              respective  beneficial  owners  of the  common  stock  and  voting
              securities   of   the   Company    immediately   prior   to   such
              reorganization,  merger or  consolidation  do not,  following such
              reorganization,   merger  or   consolidation,   beneficially  own,
              directly or indirectly,  more than 50% of, respectively,  the then
              outstanding  shares of common stock and the combined  voting power
              of  the  then  outstanding  voting  securities  entitled  to  vote
              generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the
              corporation   resulting  from  such   reorganization,   merger  or
              consolidation,  or a complete  liquidation  or  dissolution of the
              Company or a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all
              of the  assets of the  Company.  


              (e) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.


              (f)  "Committee"  means the  committee  appointed  by the Board as
            described under Section 13.


              (g)  "Company"  means Apple  Residential  Income  Trust,  Inc.,  a
            Virginia corporation.

                                       5

<PAGE>



              (h)  "Company  Stock"  means common  stock,  no par value,  of the
            Company. If the par value of the Company Stock is changed, or in the
            event  of a change  in the  capital  structure  of the  Company  (as
            provided in Section  12),  the shares  resulting  from such a change
            shall be deemed to be Company Stock within the meaning of the Plan.

              (i) "Date of Grant" means the date on which an Incentive  Award is
            granted by the Committee.  

              (j) "Disability"  or  "Disabled" means   a  physical  or  mental
            condition  that  prevents  the   Participant   from  performing  his
            customary  duties with the Employer.  The Committee  shall determine
            whether  a  Disability  exists  on the  basis of  competent  medical
            evidence, and such determination shall be conclusive.

              (k)  "Employer"  means the Company,  Apple  Residential  Advisors,
            Inc., Apple  Residential  Management  Group,  Inc., and Apple Realty
            Group, Inc.

              (l)  "Fair  Market  Value"  means, on any given  date,  (i) if the
            Company Stock is traded on an exchange, the closing registered sales
            prices of the Company  Stock on such day on the exchange on which it
            generally has the greatest trading volume, (ii) if the Company Stock
            is traded on the  over-the-counter  market,  the average between the
            closing bid and asked  prices on such day as reported by NASDAQ,  or
            (iii)  if the  Company  Stock  is not  traded  on  any  exchange  or
            over-the-


                                       6
<PAGE>



            counter  market,  the fair market value shall be  determined  by the
            Committee using any reasonable method in good faith.

              (m) "Incentive Award" means, collectively,  the award of an Option
            or Restricted Stock under the Plan.

              (n) "Initial Closing" means the first closing of the Offering that
            will occur after the Minimum Offering is achieved.

              (o) "Insider" means a person subject to Section 16(b) of the Act.

              (p) "Minimum  Offering" means the sale of the first $15,000,000 in
            shares of Company Stock pursuant to the Offering.

              (q) "Nonstatutory Stock Option" means an Option that does not meet
            the  requirements  of Code  section  422,  or,  even if meeting  the
            requirements of Code section 422, is not intended to be an incentive
            stock option and is so designated.

              (r)  "Offering"  means,  collectively,  (1)  the  sale  of  up  to
            $250,000,000  in  shares  of  Company  Stock to the  public  and the
            registration  of  such  shares  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
            Commission,  as authorized by  resolutions of the Board dated August
            22,  1996  (the  "Initial  Offering"),  and  (2)  the  sale  of  any
            additional   shares  of   Company   Stock  to  the  public  and  the
            registration  of  such  shares  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
            Commission,  as authorized by  resolutions of the Board from time to
            time,  which sales 


                                       7
<PAGE>

            occur before the  expiration  of  five  years from  November 1, 1996
            (the "Additional Offerings").

              (s) "Option" means a right to purchase Company Stock granted under
            the Plan, at a price determined in accordance with the Plan.

              (t) "Participant"  means any employee of the Employer who receives
            an  Incentive  Award under the Plan.  (u)  "Restricted  Stock" means
            Company Stock awarded upon the terms and subject to the restrictions
            set forth in Section 6.

              (v) "Rule 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 of the  Securities  and Exchange
            Commission  promulgated  under the Act. A  reference  in the Plan to
            Rule 16b-3 shall include a reference to any  corresponding  rule (or
            number  redesignation) of any amendments to Rule 16b-3 enacted after
            the effective date of the Plan's adoption.

              (w)  "Window  Period"  means  the  period  beginning  on the third
            business day and ending on the twelfth  business day  following  the
            release for publication of quarterly or annual summary statements of
            the Company's sales and earnings.  The release for publication shall
            be deemed  to have  occurred  if the  specified  financial  data (i)
            appears on a wire service, (ii) appears in a financial news service,
            (iii)  appears in a  newspaper  of general  circulation,  or (iv) is
            otherwise made publicly available.


                                       8


<PAGE>



         3.      GENERAL.  The   following  types  of  Incentive  Awards  may be
granted under the Plan: Options and Restricted Stock.  Options granted under the
Plan shall be Nonstatutory Stock Options.

         4.      STOCK.  Subject  to  Section  12  of the Plan,  there  shall be
reserved  for  issuance  under the Plan an  aggregate  of (1)  35,000  shares of
Company  Stock plus (2) 4.625% of the number of shares of Company  Stock sold in
the  Initial  Offering in excess of the  Minimum  Offering  plus (3) 4.4% of the
total number of shares of Company Stock sold in the Additional Offerings,  which
shall be  authorized,  but  unissued  shares.  Shares  allocable  to  Options or
portions  thereof  granted  under the Plan that  expire or  otherwise  terminate
unexercised may again be subjected to an Option under the Plan. The Committee is
expressly  authorized to make an Incentive  Award to a  Participant  conditioned
upon the  surrender  for  cancellation  of an option  granted  under an existing
Incentive  Award.  For  purposes  of  determining  the number of shares that are
available for Incentive  Awards under the Plan, such number shall, to the extent
permissible  under Rule 16b-3,  include the number of shares  surrendered  by an
optionee or retained by the Company in payment of Applicable Withholding Taxes.

         5.      ELIGIBILITY.

              (a)   All present and future  employees  of the  Employer who hold
positions with management  responsibilities  with the Employer (or any parent or
subsidiary  of the  Company,  whether  now  


                                       9

<PAGE>


existing  or  hereafter  created  or  acquired)  shall be  eligible  to  receive
Incentive Awards under the Plan. The Committee shall have the power and complete
discretion,  as provided in Section 13, to select eligible  employees to receive
Incentive  Awards and to determine for each  employee the terms and  conditions,
the  nature  of the award and the  number  of  shares  to be  allocated  to each
employee as part of each Incentive Award.

              (b)   The  grant of an  Incentive  Award  shall not  obligate  the
Employer  or any parent or  subsidiary  of the  Company to pay an  employee  any
particular  amount of  remuneration,  to continue the employment of the employee
after  the  grant  or to  make  further  grants  to the  employee  at  any  time
thereafter.

         6.      RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS.

              (a)   Whenever  the  Committee   deems  it  appropriate  to  grant
Restricted Stock, notice shall be given to the Participant stating the number of
shares of  Restricted  Stock  granted and the terms and  conditions to which the
Restricted  Stock is  subject.  This  notice,  when  accepted  in writing by the
Participant  shall  become  an  award  agreement  between  the  Company  and the
Participant  and  certificates  representing  the  shares  shall be  issued  and
delivered to the  Participant.  Restricted Stock may be awarded by the Committee
in its discretion without cash consideration.

              (b)   Restricted  Stock  issued  pursuant  to the  Plan  shall  be
subject to the following restrictions:


                (i) No  shares  of  Restricted  Stock  may  be  sold,  assigned,
            transferred or disposed of by an Insider  within a 


                                       10
<PAGE>

            six-month  period  beginning  on the Date of Grant,  and  Restricted
            Stock  may not be  pledged,  hypothecated  or  otherwise  encumbered
            within a  six-month  period  beginning  on the Date of Grant if such
            action would be treated as a sale or disposition under Rule 16b-3.

               (ii) No  shares  of  Restricted  Stock  may  be  sold,  assigned,
            transferred,  pledged,  hypothecated,  or  otherwise  encumbered  or
            disposed  of until the  restrictions  on such shares as set forth in
            the  Participant's  award  agreement  have  lapsed  or been  removed
            pursuant to paragraph (d) or (e) below.

               (iii)If a Participant  ceases to be employed by the Employer or a
            parent or subsidiary of the Company,  the Participant  shall forfeit
            to  the  Company  any  shares  of  Restricted  Stock  on  which  the
            restrictions  have not lapsed or been removed  pursuant to paragraph
            (d) or (e) below on the date such  Participant  shall cease to be so
            employed.

              (c)   Upon  the  acceptance  by  a  Participant  of  an  award  of
Restricted Stock, such Participant shall,  subject to the restrictions set forth
in paragraph  (b) above,  have all the rights of a  shareholder  with respect to
such shares of  Restricted  Stock,  including,  but not limited to, the right to
vote such shares of Restricted  Stock and the right to receive all dividends and
other  distributions paid thereon.  Certificates  representing  Restricted Stock
shall bear a legend  referring to the 





                                       11

<PAGE>

restrictions set forth in the Plan and the Participant's award agreement.

              (d)   The Committee shall establish as to each award of Restricted
Stock  the  terms  and  conditions  upon  which  the  restrictions  set forth in
paragraph (b) above shall lapse. Such terms and conditions may include,  without
limitation,  the  lapsing of such  restrictions  as a result of the  Disability,
death or retirement of the Participant or the occurrence of a Change of Control.

              (e)   Notwithstanding  the  provisions of  paragraphs  (b)(ii) and
(iii) above, the Committee may at any time, in its sole  discretion,  accelerate
the time at which any or all restrictions  will lapse or remove any and all such
restrictions.

              (f)   Each  Participant  shall  agree at the  time his  Restricted
Stock is granted,  and as a condition  thereof,  to pay to the Company,  or make
arrangements  satisfactory  to the Company  regarding the payment to the Company
of,  Applicable   Withholding   Taxes.  Until  such  amount  has  been  paid  or
arrangements  satisfactory  to the Company have been made, no stock  certificate
free of a legend  reflecting the  restrictions  set forth in paragraph (b) above
shall be issued to such Participant.

         7.   STOCK OPTIONS.

              (a) Whenever the Committee  deems it appropriate to grant Options,
notice shall be given to the Participant  stating the number of shares for which
Options are granted, the Option price per share, and the conditions to which the
grant and


                                       12


<PAGE>

exercise of the Options are subject.  This notice, when duly accepted in writing
by the Participant,  shall become a stock option  agreement  between the Company
and the Participant.

              (b)   The exercise  price of shares of Company Stock covered by an
Option  shall be not less than 100% of the Fair  Market  Value of such shares on
the Date of Grant.

              (c)   Options may be  exercised  in whole or in part at such times
as  may be  specified  by  the  Committee  in  the  Participant's  stock  option
agreement;  provided  that,  the exercise  provisions  for Options  shall in all
events not be more liberal than the following provisions:

                (i)   No Option may be  exercised  after ten years from the Date
               of Grant.

                (ii)  Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph,  no Option
               may be  exercised  unless  the  Participant  is  employed  by the
               Employer or a parent or  subsidiary of the Company at the time of
               the exercise and has been so employed at all times since the Date
               of Grant. If a Participant's  employment is terminated other than
               by  reason  of  his  Disability  or  death  at a  time  when  the
               Participant  holds an Option that is exercisable  (in whole or in
               part), the Participant may exercise any or all of the exercisable
               portion of the Option (to the extent  exercisable  on the date of
               termination)  within 60 days after the Participant's  termination
               of  employment.  If a  Participant's  employment is terminated by
               reason of his Disability at a time when the 


                                       13


<PAGE>


          Participant holds an Option that is exercisable (in whole or in part),
          the Participant may exercise any or all of the exercisable  portion of
          the  Option  (to the  extent  exercisable  on the date of  Disability)
          within 180 days after the Participant's  termination of employment. If
          a  Participant's  employment is terminated by reason of his death at a
          time when the  Participant  holds an Option  that is  exercisable  (in
          whole  or in  part),  the  Option  may be  exercised  (to  the  extent
          exercisable   on  the  date  of  death)  within  180  days  after  the
          Participant's  death by the  person to whom the  Participant's  rights
          under the Option  shall have  passed by will or by the laws of descent
          and distribution.

              (d)       Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,   no  Option  shall  be
    exercisable  by an Insider  within the first six months  after it is granted
    (as determined under Rule 16b-3);  provided that, this restriction shall not
    apply if the  Participant  becomes  Disabled  or dies  during the  six-month
    period.

              (e)       The Committee may, in its discretion, grant Options that
    by  their  terms  become  fully   exercisable  upon  a  Change  of  Control,
    notwithstanding  other  conditions  on  exercisability  in the stock  option
    agreement.

         8.     METHOD OF EXERCISE OF OPTIONS.

           (a)     Options may be exercised by the  Participant  giving  written
    notice of the  exercise  to the  Company,  stating  the number of shares the
    Participant  has elected to purchase under the Option.  Such notice shall be
    effective  only if  accompanied  by 


                                       14

<PAGE>


     the  exercise  price in full in cash;  provided  that,  if the  terms of an
     Option so permit,  the  Participant may (i) deliver shares of Company Stock
     (valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise) in satisfaction
     of all or any part of the exercise price,  (ii) deliver a properly executed
     exercise  notice  together  with  irrevocable  instructions  to a broker to
     deliver  promptly  to the  Company,  from  the sale or loan  proceeds  with
     respect to the sale of Company  Stock or a loan  secured by Company  Stock,
     the amount  necessary  to pay the  exercise  price and,  if required by the
     Committee,  Applicable  Withholding  Taxes,  or (iii)  deliver an  interest
     bearing promissory note, payable to the Company,  in payment of all or part
     of the exercise price  together with such  collateral as may be required by
     the  Committee  at the time of exercise.  The interest  rate under any such
     promissory note shall be established by the Committee and shall be at least
     equal to the minimum  interest  rate  required at the time to avoid imputed
     interest under the Code.

           (b)     The Company may place on any certificate representing Company
    Stock issued upon the exercise of an Option any legend  deemed  desirable by
    the Company's  counsel to comply with federal or state  securities laws, and
    the Company may require a customary written  indication of the Participant's
    investment  intent.  Until the  Participant  has made any required  payment,
    including any Applicable Withholding Taxes, and has had issued a certificate
    for the shares of Company Stock  acquired,  he shall possess no  shareholder
    rights with respect to the shares.


                                       15
<PAGE>



           (c)     As an  alternative to making a cash payment to the Company to
    satisfy  Applicable  Withholding  Taxes,  if the  Option  so  provides,  the
    Participant  may,  subject to the provisions  set forth below,  elect to (i)
    deliver  shares of  already  owned  Company  Stock or (ii) have the  Company
    retain  that number of shares of Company  Stock that would  satisfy all or a
    specified portion of the Applicable  Withholding  Taxes. The Committee shall
    have sole  discretion to approve or  disapprove  any such  election.  If the
    Participant is an Insider,  the following  provisions  apply to elections to
    satisfy Applicable Withholding Taxes, to the extent required by Rule 16b-3:

                  (i) The Participant's election to have the Company retain from
         the shares of Company Stock to be issued upon exercise of an Option the
         number  of  shares of  Company  Stock  that  would  satisfy  Applicable
         Withholding Taxes must be made at least six months after the Option was
         granted and either:

                           (x) during a Window Period; or

                           (y)  at  least  six  months   before  the  amount  of
              Applicable Withholding Taxes is calculated.

                  (ii) The Participant's election must be irrevocable.

                 (iii)  Notwithstanding  any of the  foregoing  provisions,  the
         manner and timing of elections may be varied from those  provided,  and
         elections  previously  made  as  irrevocable  may be  revoked,  if such
         variance or revocation is permissible under Rule 16b-3.


                                       16
<PAGE>



           (d)     Notwithstanding  anything  herein  to the  contrary,  Options
shall  always be  granted  and  exercised  in such a manner as to conform to the
provisions of Rule 16b-3.

         9.     NONTRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS.  Options by their terms shall not
be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or, if
permitted by Rule 16b-3,  pursuant to a qualified  domestic  relations order (as
defined in Code section 414(p))  ("QDRO") and shall be  exercisable,  during the
Participant's  lifetime, only by the Participant or, if permitted by Rule 16b-3,
an  alternate  payee  under  a  QDRO,  or  by  his  guardian,   duly  authorized
attorney-in-fact or other legal representative.

        10.     EFFECTIVE  DATE OF THE PLAN.  This Plan is  effective on October
17, 1996,  having been approved by the shareholders of the Company on such date.
Until the requirements of any applicable  state or federal  securities laws have
been met, no Option shall be exercisable.

       11.      TERMINATION,  MODIFICATION,  CHANGE. If not sooner terminated by
the Board,  this Plan, as amended and restated,  shall terminate at the close of
business on October 17, 2006.  No Incentive  Awards shall be made under the Plan
after its termination. The Board may terminate the Plan or may amend the Plan in
such respects as it shall deem  advisable;  provided  that, if and to the extent
required by Rule 16b-3,  no change shall be made that increases the total number
of shares of Company Stock  


                                       17


<PAGE>

reserved  for  issuance  pursuant to  Incentive  Awards  granted  under the Plan
(except  pursuant to Section 12),  materially  modifies the  requirements  as to
eligibility for participation in the Plan, or materially  increases the benefits
accruing to Participants under the Plan, unless such change is authorized by the
shareholders  of the  Company.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the  Board may
unilaterally  amend the Plan and  Incentive  Awards as it deems  appropriate  to
ensure compliance with Rule 16b-3. Except as provided in the preceding sentence,
a  termination  or amendment  of the Plan shall not,  without the consent of the
Participant,  adversely affect the Participant's rights under an Incentive Award
previously granted to him.

        12.      CHANGE IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE.

             (a)     In  the  event  of  a  stock   dividend,   stock  split  or
combination  of shares,  recapitalization  or merger in which the Company is the
surviving corporation or other change in the Company's capital stock (including,
but not limited  to, the  creation or  issuance  to  shareholders  generally  of
rights,  options or warrants for the purchase of common stock or preferred stock
of the  Company),  the number and kind of shares of stock or  securities  of the
Company  to be  subject to the Plan and to  Options  then  outstanding  or to be
granted  thereunder,  the maximum  number of shares or  securities  which may be
delivered under the Plan, the exercise price and other relevant provisions shall
be appropriately adjusted by the Committee, whose determination shall be binding
on all persons.  If the adjustment would produce  


                                       18


<PAGE>


fractional  shares with respect to any  unexercised  Option,  the  Committee may
adjust  appropriately  the  number  of  shares  covered  by the  Option so as to
eliminate the fractional shares.

              (b)    If the Company is a party to a consolidation or a merger in
which the Company is not the surviving  corporation,  a transaction that results
in the acquisition of substantially all of the Company's  outstanding stock by a
single  person or entity,  or a sale or  transfer  of  substantially  all of the
Company's  assets,   the  Committee  may  take  such  actions  with  respect  to
outstanding Incentive Awards as the Committee deems appropriate.

              (c)    Notwithstanding  anything in the Plan to the contrary,  the
Committee may take the foregoing actions without the consent of any Participant,
and the Committee's determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons
for all purposes.

        13.       ADMINISTRATION  OF THE PLAN. The Plan shall be administered by
the  Committee,  which shall  consist of not less than two members of the Board,
who shall be appointed by the Board. The Committee shall have general  authority
to impose any  limitation  or condition  upon an Incentive  Award the  Committee
deems  appropriate to achieve the objectives of the Incentive Award and the Plan
and,  without  limitation  and in addition to powers set forth  elsewhere in the
Plan, shall have the following specific authority:

              (a)    The Committee shall have the power and complete  discretion
         to determine  (i) which  eligible  employees  shall  receive  Incentive
         Awards  and the  nature of each  Incentive  


                                       19


<PAGE>

         Award, (ii) the number of shares of Company Stock to be covered by each
         Incentive Award, (iii) the Fair Market Value of Company Stock, (iv) the
         time or times when an Incentive Award shall be granted,  (v) whether an
         Incentive  Award shall become  vested over a period of time and when it
         shall be fully  vested,  (vi)  when  Options  may be  exercised,  (vii)
         whether a Disability exists, (viii) the manner in which payment will be
         made upon the  exercise of  Options,  (ix)  conditions  relating to the
         length of time before  disposition  of Company Stock  received upon the
         exercise   of  Options  is   permitted,   (x)   whether  to  approve  a
         Participant's elections under the Plan, (xi) notice provisions relating
         to the sale of Company  Stock  acquired  under the Plan,  and (xii) any
         additional requirements relating to Incentive Awards that the Committee
         deems  appropriate.  The  Committee  shall  have the power to amend the
         terms of previously  granted  Incentive  Awards so long as the terms as
         amended are consistent with the terms of the Plan and provided that the
         consent of the  Participant  is obtained  with respect to any amendment
         that would be detrimental to him,  except that such consent will not be
         required if such  amendment is for the purpose of  complying  with Rule
         16b-3.

              (b)    The Committee may adopt rules and  regulations for carrying
         out the Plan. The  interpretation  and construction of any provision of
         the Plan by the Committee shall be final and conclusive.  The Committee
         may consult with counsel,  who 


                                       20


<PAGE>


         may be counsel to the Company,  and shall  not incur any  liability for
         any action taken in good faith in  reliance upon the advice of counsel.

              (c)    A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute
         a quorum, and all actions of the Committee shall be taken by a majority
         of the members present. Any action may be taken by a written instrument
         signed by all of the  members,  and any action so taken  shall be fully
         effective as if it had been taken at a meeting.

              (d)   The Board from time to time may appoint members  previously
         appointed and may fill  vacancies,  however  caused,  in the Committee.
         Insofar as it is necessary to satisfy the requirements of Section 16(b)
         of the Act, no member of the Committee shall be eligible to participate
         in the  Plan or in any  other  plan of the  Company  or any  parent  or
         subsidiary of the Company that entitles  participants to acquire stock,
         stock options or stock appreciation rights of the Company or any parent
         or  subsidiary  of the Company,  and no person shall become a member of
         the  Committee if, within the  preceding  one-year  period,  the person
         shall have been  eligible to  participate  in such a plan (other than a
         "safe harbor plan" permitted under Rule 16b-3(c)(2)(i) and (ii)).

         14.      NOTICE.  All  notices  and other  communications  required  or
permitted to be given under this Plan shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been duly given if delivered  personally  or mailed  first  class,  postage
prepaid, as follows (a) if to the

                                       21


<PAGE>


Company - at its principal  business  address to the attention of the President;
(b) if to any Participant - at the last address of the Participant  known to the
sender at the time the notice or other communication is sent.

        15.       GOVERNING LAW. The terms of this Plan shall be governed by the
laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  Company  has caused this Plan to be executed
this 17th day of October, 1996.

                                                     APPLE RESIDENTIAL INCOME
                                                     TRUST, INC.

                                                     By /s/ Glade M. Knight
                                                        -------------------
                                                        Glade M. Knight,
                                                        Chairman of the Board



                                       22




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