CORNERSTONE REALTY INCOME TRUST INC
424B2, 1998-05-28
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS
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                                        FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 424(B)(2)
                                        REGISTRATION NO. 333-34441

                                        PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT DATED MAY 27, 1998
                                        IS  TO  BE  USED  IN  CONJUNCTION   WITH
                                        PROSPECUTS DATED JANUARY 27, 1998


PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated January 27, 1998)


                                2,608,696 SHARES
                      CORNERSTONE REALTY INCOME TRUST, INC.
                                  COMMON SHARES


     All of the Common  Shares,  no par value,  offered hereby (the "Shares") in
this  offering  (the  "Offering")  are being sold by  Cornerstone  Realty Income
Trust, Inc. (the "Company").  The Common Shares are listed on the New York Stock
Exchange  ("NYSE")  under the symbol "TCR" (The  Cornerstone  REIT).  On May 27,
1998,  the reported  last sale price of the Common Shares on the NYSE was $11.50
per Common Share. The Shares offered hereby will be listed on the NYSE,  subject
to official notice of issuance.

     PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE MATTERS DISCUSSED UNDER
"RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE S-2.

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

          THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE
            SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
                AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY
                OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE
                   ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION
                     TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

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

     PaineWebber  Incorporated  (the  "Underwriter")  has agreed to purchase the
Shares from the Company at a price of $10.925 per Share,  resulting in aggregate
proceeds to the Company of $28,500,004 before payment of expenses by the Company
estimated at $100,000,  subject to the terms and conditions in the  underwriting
agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement"). The Underwriter intends to deposit the
Shares with the trustee of PaineWebber  Equity Trust REIT Series 1 (the "Trust")
in exchange for units in the Trust.  If all of the Shares so deposited  with the
trustee of the Trust are valued at their reported last sale price on the NYSE on
May 27, 1998, the aggregate  underwriting  commissions would be $1,500,000.  The
Company has agreed to indemnify the  Underwriter  against  certain  liabilities,
including  liabilities  under  the  Securities  Act of  1933,  as  amended.  See
"Underwriting."
                              --------------------
     The Shares are offered by the Underwriter,  subject to prior sale, when, as
and if delivered to and accepted by the  Underwriter and subject to its right to
reject  orders in whole or in part.  It is expected  that delivery of the Shares
will be made in New York City on or about May 29, 1998.


                              --------------------
                            PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED
                              --------------------

             The date of the Prospectus Supplement is May 27, 1998.


<PAGE>



     CERTAIN PERSONS  PARTICIPATING  IN THIS OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS
THAT  STABILIZE,  MAINTAIN OR OTHERWISE  AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE COMMON  SHARES,
INCLUDING PURCHASES OF THE COMMON SHARES TO STABILIZE THEIR MARKET PRICES. FOR A
DESCRIPTION OF THESE ACTIVITIES,  SEE  "UNDERWRITING" AND "PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION"
IN THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS.

     This Prospectus  Supplement may contain statements that may be deemed to be
"forward-looking"  within the  meaning of Section 27A of the  Securities  Act of
1933,  as amended  (the  "Securities  Act"),  and Section 21E of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the  "Exchange  Act").  The  Company's  actual
results or experiences could differ materially from those in the forward-looking
statements.  Certain factors that might cause such a difference are discussed in
the section  entitled  "Risk Factors"  beginning on page S-2 of this  Prospectus
Supplement.

     The following information is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed
information appearing in the accompanying  Prospectus or incorporated herein and
therein by reference.  When appropriate,  references herein to the Company shall
be deemed to include CRIT-NC, LLC, a Virginia limited liability company which is
wholly-owned  by the Company and which owns all of the Company's  North Carolina
properties as of the date of this Prospectus Supplement.

                                   THE COMPANY

     Cornerstone Realty Income Trust, Inc. (the "Company"),  a self-administered
and self-managed  equity real estate investment trust ("REIT")  headquartered in
Richmond,  Virginia,  is  a  fully  integrated  real  estate  organization  with
expertise  in the  acquisition,  repositioning,  renovation  and  management  of
apartment  communities.  The  Company  focuses  on the  ownership  of  apartment
communities  located  in growing  markets in  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  South
Carolina and Georgia  (each an  "Apartment  Community"  and,  collectively,  the
"Apartment  Communities").  On May 27,  1998,  the  Company  owned 54  Apartment
Communities  comprising  12,584  apartment  units.  As of March  31,  1998,  the
Apartment  Communities had an aggregate economic occupancy of 91% and an average
monthly rent of $586 per unit.

                                  RISK FACTORS

     In addition to the risks normally  associated  with investment in apartment
communities, investment in the Company may involve the following risks:

o    The availability of attractive  investment  opportunities  may fluctuate as
     the Company faces competition from other companies with similar objectives.

o    There can be no  assurance  that the Company  will  continue to grow at the
     rate  experienced  to date,  and there can be no assurance the Company will
     have  access  to  suitable  equity  or  debt  financing  necessary  for its
     operations and growth.

                                       S-2


<PAGE>



o    The  Company is  dependent  on its  executive  officers.  While the Company
     believes that it could find replacements for them if necessary, the loss of
     their services  could have an adverse  effect on the Company.  Furthermore,
     Glade M. Knight,  the Company's  Chairman and Chief Executive  Officer,  is
     involved in other ventures that compete for his time.

o    The Company's current unsecured line of credit bears interest at a variable
     rate. The Company is therefore  subject to the risks associated with market
     interest rate increases.

o    The  limitations  on Common Share  ownership in the Company's  Bylaws,  the
     staggered  terms for the board of directors,  and the provisions  governing
     "Affiliated  Transactions"  in the Virginia Stock  Corporation Act may each
     have the effect of deterring the acquisition of, or a change of control in,
     the Company.

o    The Company is not aware of any material adverse environmental  conditions,
     liabilities  or  compliance   concerns   affecting  any  of  the  Apartment
     Communities. Nonetheless, the Company may, under various federal, state and
     local  environmental  laws, be liable or may incur  unexpected costs if any
     hazardous  or  toxic   substances  are  discovered  on,  under  or  in  its
     properties.

o    The market price of the Common Shares will largely depend on factors beyond
     the control of the Company,  including  interest  rates,  conditions in the
     financial  and  stock  markets,  the  general  state  of the  economy,  and
     perceptions about future economic and political developments.

o    Mr.  Knight  is  also  Chairman  and  Chief  Executive   Officer  of  Apple
     Residential Income Trust, Inc. ("Apple").  The Company's  relationship with
     Apple may  involve  certain  investment  considerations  and  conflicts  of
     interest, including the following:

     -    While   the   Company   receives   fees   for   property   management,
          administrative  and property  acquisition  services rendered to Apple,
          there is no assurance  that such fees  generate the same value for the
          Company as would be generated if Company  employees  provided services
          only for Company-owned properties.

     -    The Company has stated its  intention to seek to acquire  Apple if and
          when  advisable,  and the  Company  has a right  of first  refusal  to
          acquire the business  and assets of Apple.  While the  acquisition  of
          Apple,  if  it  occurs,  would  eliminate  the  conflict  of  interest
          associated  with its  service  agreements,  it would  also  result  in
          termination of the related fees.

     -    Mr. Knight,  Stanley J. Olander,  Jr. (Chief Financial  Officer of the
          Company) and Debra A. Jones (Chief  Operating  Officer of the Company)
          own  certain  Class  B  Convertible  Shares  in  Apple.  The  Class  B
          Convertible  Shares are convertible  into a number of common shares of
          Apple that  increases as Apple sells  additional  common shares to the
          public.  In this respect,  there would be a benefit to Messrs.  Knight
          and  Olander  and Ms.  Jones to defer an  acquisition  of Apple  until
          Apple's ongoing public offering is complete.

                                       S-3


<PAGE>


                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

     The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the Shares  offered hereby
are expected to be approximately  $28,400,000 million,  after deducting expenses
payable by the Company  estimated at $100,000.  The Company  intends to use such
net proceeds for repayment of indebtedness under the Company's unsecured line of
credit (the  "Unsecured  Line of Credit").  As of May 5, 1998,  the  outstanding
balance under the Unsecured Line of Credit was  approximately  $175,000,000  and
the interest rate was 7.01%.  The entire balance of the Unsecured Line of Credit
is due on October 30,  2000.  The Company uses the  Unsecured  Line of Credit to
finance its acquisition of properties.


                    CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

     This discussion does not purport to deal with all of the aspects of federal
income  taxation that may be relevant to a prospective  shareholder  in light of
his or her personal  investment  or tax  circumstances,  or to certain  types of
shareholders  who are subject to special  treatment under the federal income tax
laws. For a discussion of material federal income tax consequences applicable to
distributions to shareholders and the Company's  election to be taxed as a REIT,
see "Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations" in the accompanying  Prospectus.
PROSPECTIVE  PURCHASERS  OF SHARES ARE  ADVISED  TO  CONSULT  WITH THEIR OWN TAX
ADVISOR  REGARDING  THE  SPECIFIC TAX  CONSEQUENCES  TO SUCH  PURCHASERS  OF THE
PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP, AND SALE OF SHARES.

     The Taxpayer  Relief Act of 1997 (the "1997 Act") made numerous  changes to
the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,  including  reducing the maximum
tax rate  imposed on net capital  gains from the sale or exchange of assets held
for more than 18 months by individuals,  trusts and estates.  For gains realized
after July 28, 1997, and subject to certain exceptions,  the maximum rate of tax
on net capital gains has been reduced to 20%. For taxpayers who would be subject
to a maximum tax rate of 15%,  the rate on net capital  gains is reduced to 10%.
The  maximum  tax  rate  for  net  capital  gains  attributable  to the  sale of
depreciable  real  property held for more than 18 months is 25% to the extent of
the deductions for depreciation with respect to such property. Long-term capital
gain  allocated to a shareholder  by the Company will be subject to the 25% rate
to the extent that the gain does not exceed  depreciation  on real property sold
by the Company. The maximum rate of capital gains tax on the sale or exchange of
capital  assets  held more than one year but not more than 18 months  remains at
28%. Under Internal Revenue Service Notice 97-64, a REIT may designate  (subject
to certain limits)  whether a capital gains dividend or an amount  designated as
retained capital gains is taxable to U.S. shareholders (other than corporations)
as a 20 percent rate gain distribution, a 28 percent rate gain distribution,  or
a 25 percent rate section 1250 gain distribution.

     The 1997 Act also makes certain changes to the requirements to qualify as a
REIT and to the taxation of REITs and their  shareholders.  These provisions are
effective  for taxable years  beginning  after the date of enactment of the 1997
Act which, as to the Company,  is its taxable year  commencing  January 1, 1998.
First,  in determining  whether a REIT satisfies  certain income tests, a REIT's
rental  income  from a property  will not cease to  qualify as "rents  from real
property"  merely  because the REIT  performs  services  for a tenant other than
permitted  customary  services  if the  amount  that the REIT is  deemed to have
received as a result of  performing  impermissible  services does not exceed one
percent of all amounts received  directly or indirectly by the REIT with respect
to that  property.  For this  purpose,  the amount that a REIT will be deemed to
have  received  for  performing  impermissible  services is at least 150% of the
direct cost to the REIT of providing

                                       S-4


<PAGE>



those  services.   Second,  certain  non-cash  income,   including  income  from
cancellation of indebtedness and original issue discount,  will be excluded from
income  in  determining  the  amount of  dividends  that a REIT is  required  to
distribute. However, the REIT will still be subject to tax on this income to the
extent it is not offset by the dividends paid deduction. Third, a REIT may elect
to retain and pay income tax on any net long-term  capital gains and require its
shareholders to include such undistributed net capital gains in their income. If
a REIT  makes such an  election,  the REIT's  shareholders  would  receive a tax
credit  attributable  to their share of capital  gains tax paid by a REIT on the
undistributed net capital gains that was included in the  shareholders'  income,
and such shareholders  would receive an increase in the basis of their shares in
the amount of undistributed net capital gain included in their income reduced by
the amount of the credit.  Fourth,  the 1997 Act repeals the requirement  that a
REIT receive less than 30% of its gross income from the sale or  disposition  of
stock  or  securities  held  for  less  than  one  year,  gain  from  prohibited
transactions,  and gain from certain  sales of real property held less than four
years.  Finally,  the 1997 Act  contains a number of technical  provisions  that
reduce the risk that a REIT would inadvertently cease to qualify as a REIT.

     In February 1998, as part of the  Administration's  Fiscal Year 1999 Budget
Proposal,  the Treasury  Department proposed to prohibit a REIT from owning more
than 10% of the vote or value of a C  corporation's  stock (other than the stock
of a qualified  REIT  subsidiary)  (the  "Proposed  Legislation").  The Proposed
Legislation  would be effective  with respect to stock  acquired by a REIT on or
after  the  date  "of  first  committee  action."  In  addition,   the  Proposed
Legislation  would be  effective  with  respect  to  stock of a REIT's  existing
subsidiary to the extent that the subsidiary engages in a trade or business that
it is not  engaged  in on  the  date  of  first  committee  action  or  acquires
substantial new assets on or after that date. If the Proposed  Legislation  were
introduced in Congress and enacted as presently written,  the Company's existing
preferred  stock  subsidiaries  could not engage in a new trade or  business  or
acquire   substantial  new  assets  without   jeopardizing  the  Company's  REIT
qualification.

                                  UNDERWRITING

     Subject to the terms and  conditions  in the  Underwriting  Agreement,  the
Company has agreed to sell to the Underwriter, and the Underwriter has agreed to
purchase  from the Company,  all of the Shares  offered  hereby at the price set
forth on the cover page of this Prospectus Supplement.  Pursuant to the terms of
the  Underwriting  Agreement,  the Underwriter is obligated to purchase all such
Shares if any are purchased.

     The  Underwriter  intends to deposit  the Shares  offered  hereby  with the
trustee of the Trust, a registered  unit  investment  trust under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended,  in exchange for units in the Trust.  If all of
the Shares so  deposited  with the trustee of the Trust are valued at their last
sale price on the NYSE on May 27, 1998, the aggregate  underwriting  commissions
would be $1,500,000.  The  Underwriter is acting as sponsor and depositor of the
Trust and is therefore considered an affiliate of the Trust.

     In the  Underwriting  Agreement,  the Company has agreed to  indemnify  the
Underwriter against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the federal
securities  laws,  or to  contribute  to payments  that the  Underwriter  may be
required to make in respect thereof.

     In connection with this Offering of Shares, the rules of the Securities and
Exchange  Commission  permit the  Underwriter to engage in certain  transactions
that stabilize the price of the Common Shares. Such transactions consist of bids
or purchases for the purpose of pegging,  fixing or maintaining the price of the
Common Shares.

                                       S-5


<PAGE>



     If the  Underwriter  creates  a short  position  in the  Common  Shares  in
connection  with this Offering (i.e., if it sells more Shares than are set forth
on the cover page of this  Prospectus  Supplement),  the  Underwriter may reduce
that short position by purchasing  Common Shares in the open market. In general,
purchases of a security for the purpose of  stabilization  could cause the price
of the security to be higher than it might be in the absence of such purchases.

     Neither  the  Company  nor the  Underwriter  makes  any  representation  or
prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the  transactions
described  above  might have on the price of the  Common  Shares.  In  addition,
neither  the  Company  nor the  Underwriter  makes any  representation  that the
Underwriter  will engage in such  transactions or that such  transactions,  once
commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

     The Common Shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol "TCR." The Shares
offered  hereby  will be listed  on the  NYSE,  subject  to  official  notice of
issuance.

                                  LEGAL MATTERS

     Certain legal matters, including the legality of the Shares, will be passed
upon for the Company by McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe LLP, Richmond, Virginia,
and for the  Underwriter  by Hunton & Williams,  Richmond,  Virginia.  Leslie A.
Grandis, a partner in McGuire,  Woods, Battle & Boothe LLP, is a director of the
Company.

                                       S-6


<PAGE>


PROSPECTUS



                                 $200,000,000

                     CORNERSTONE REALTY INCOME TRUST, INC.

                                DEBT SECURITIES
                                 COMMON SHARES
                                PREFERRED SHARES

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

     Cornerstone  Realty Income Trust,  Inc. (the "Company") may issue from time
to time its (i) unsecured  senior or  subordinated  debt  securities  (the "Debt
Securities"),  (ii) Common  Shares,  no par value  ("Common  Shares"),  or (iii)
Preferred Shares, no par value ("Preferred Shares"), having an aggregate initial
public offering price not to exceed  $200,000,000  or the equivalent  thereof in
one or more foreign  currencies  or  composite  currencies,  including  European
Currency  Units,  on  terms  to be  determined  at the  time of  sale.  The Debt
Securities,   the  Common  Shares  and  the  Preferred   Shares  offered  hereby
(collectively,  the "Offered Securities") may be offered, separately or as units
with other Offered  Securities,  in separate series in amounts, at prices and on
terms to be  determined  at the time of sale and to be set forth in a supplement
to this Prospectus (a "Prospectus Supplement").

     The Debt Securities will be direct unsecured obligations of the Company and
may be either senior Debt Securities ("Senior  Securities") or subordinated Debt
Securities ("Subordinated Securities").  The Senior Securities will rank equally
with all other unsecured and  unsubordinated  indebtedness  of the Company.  The
Subordinated  Securities  will be subordinated to all existing and future Senior
Debt of the Company, as defined. See "Description of Debt Securities."

     The  specific  terms of the  Offered  Securities  in  respect of which this
Prospectus is being  delivered  will be set forth in the  applicable  Prospectus
Supplement  and  will  include,  where  applicable,  (i) in  the  case  of  Debt
Securities,  the specific  designation,  aggregate  principal amount,  currency,
denominations,  maturity,  priority, interest rate, time of payment of principal
and  interest,  terms of redemption at the option of the Company or repayment at
the option of the holder or for sinking fund payments, terms for conversion into
or exchange for other Offered  Securities and the initial public offering price;
(ii) in the case of Common  Shares,  the number of Common Shares and the initial
public  offering  price;  (iii)  in the case of  Preferred  Shares,  the  series
designation  and number of shares  and the  dividend,  liquidation,  redemption,
conversion,  voting and other rights and the initial public offering price;  and
(iv) in the case of all Offered Securities, whether such Offered Securities will
be offered separately or as a unit with other Offered  Securities.  In addition,
such specific terms may include  limitations  on direct or beneficial  ownership
and restrictions on transfer of the Offered  Securities,  in each case as may be
appropriate  to preserve  the status of the  Company as a qualified  real estate
investment  trust ("REIT")  under the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the "Code").

     The applicable Prospectus  Supplement will also contain information,  where
applicable,  concerning  certain United States federal income tax considerations
relating to, and any listing on a securities exchange of, the Offered Securities
covered thereby.


     The Offered  Securities may be offered directly,  through agents designated
from time to time by the Company or to or through  underwriters  or dealers.  If
any designated  agents or any  underwriters  are involved in the sale of Offered
Securities,  they will be identified and their compensation will be described in
the applicable  Prospectus  Supplement.  See "Plan of  Distribution." No Offered
Securities may be sold without delivery of the applicable  Prospectus Supplement
describing  such  Offered  Securities  and the method and terms of the  offering
thereof. 

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

       THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECU-
          RITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED
              UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
              REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

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

              THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO CONSUMMATE SALES
          OF SECURITIES UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

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

                THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS JANUARY 27, 1998.


<PAGE>


                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION


     The  Company,  with  principal  executive  offices at 306 East Main Street,
Richmond,  Virginia 23219,  telephone  number (804) 643-1761,  is subject to the
informational  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the  "Exchange  Act"),  and  in  accordance  therewith  files  reports,   proxy
statements and other  information  with the  Securities and Exchange  Commission
(the "Commission"). Reports, proxy statements and other information filed by the
Company  can  be  inspected  and  copied  at  the  public  reference  facilities
maintained by the Commission at Room 1024,  Judiciary  Plaza,  450 Fifth Street,
N.W.,  Washington,  D.C.  20549,  and at the following  regional  offices of the
Commission: Seven World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York, 10048; and
500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661. Such documents can
also be inspected and copied at the offices of the New York Stock  Exchange (the
"NYSE"),  20 Broad  Street,  New York,  New York  10005 and also from the Public
Reference Section of the Commission at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street,  N.W.,
Washington,  D.C. 20549, at prescribed  rates. The Company files reports,  proxy
statements  and  other  information  with  the  Commission  electronically.  The
Commission  maintains a Web site that contains  reports,  proxy and  information
statements and other information  regarding registrants that file electronically
with the Commission. The address of the Web site is: http://www.sec.gov.

     The  Company  has  filed  with the  Commission,  450  Fifth  Street,  N.W.,
Washington,  D.C. 20549, a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration
Statement")  under the Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  with respect to the
securities offered hereby.  This Prospectus does not contain all the information
set forth in the Registration Statement, certain items of which are contained in
schedules and exhibits to the  Registration  Statement as permitted by the rules
and regulations of the Commission. For further information,  reference is hereby
made to the Registration  Statement,  including the schedules and exhibits filed
as a part thereof, which may be obtained from the Commission upon payment of the
fees prescribed by the Commission.


               INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE



     The Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December 31,
1996,  the  Company's  Current  Reports  on Form  8-K  dated  October  31,  1996
(including  Amendment  No. 1 thereto on Form 8-K/A),  March 27, 1997  (including
Amendment  No. 1 and  Amendment  No. 2  thereto  on Form  8-K/A),  May 14,  1997
(including  Amendment No. 1 thereto on Form 8-K/A),  August 28, 1997  (including
Amendment No. 1 thereto on Form 8-K/A),  September 30, 1997 (including Amendment
No. 1 thereto on Form  8-K/A),  October  31,  1997  (including  Amendment  No. 1
thereto on Form 8-K/A),  December 30, 1997,  and January 13, 1998, the Company's
Quarterly  Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1997,  June 30,
1997 and September 30, 1997, and the Company's  Registration  Statements on Form
8-A under the Exchange Act, each of which has been filed by the Company with the
Commission, are incorporated herein by reference. 

     All documents filed by the Company with the Commission  pursuant to Section
13(a),  13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Prospectus
and prior to the  termination of the Offering shall be deemed to be incorporated
by reference in this  Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the date of filing
of such documents.  Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus  shall be deemed to
be modified or superseded  for purposes of this  Prospectus to the extent that a
statement  contained  herein or in any other  subsequently  filed document which
also  is or is  deemed  to be  incorporated  by  reference  herein  modifies  or
supersedes  such statement.  Any such statement so modified or superseded  shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Prospectus.

     Information   relating  to  the  Company   contained  in  this   Prospectus
summarizes,  is based upon, or refers to,  information and financial  statements
contained in one or more of the  documents  incorporated  by  reference  herein;
accordingly,  such information  contained herein is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such documents and should be read in conjunction therewith.

     The  Company  will  provide  without  charge  to each  person  to whom this
Prospectus is delivered,  upon written or oral request of such person, a copy of
any document  incorporated by reference in this Prospectus,  other than exhibits
to any such  document  unless such  exhibits are  specifically  incorporated  by
reference into the information in this  Prospectus.  Requests for such documents
should be directed to  Cornerstone  Realty  Income  Trust,  Inc.,  306 East Main
Street,  Richmond,  Virginia 23219,  Attention:  Investor  Relations  (telephone
number (804) 643-1761)).


                                       2

<PAGE>


                                   THE COMPANY


     Cornerstone Realty Income Trust, Inc. (the "Company"),  a self-administered
and self-managed  equity real estate investment trust ("REIT")  headquartered in
Richmond,  Virginia,  is  a  fully  integrated  real  estate  organization  with
expertise  in  the   acquisition,   renovation   and   management  of  apartment
communities.  The Company  focuses on the  ownership  of  apartment  communities
located in growing  markets in  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina and
Georgia.  On  December  31,  1997,  the  Company  owned 51  apartment  complexes
comprising 11,922 apartment units.

     The  Company's  executive  offices  are  located  at 306 East Main  Street,
Richmond, Virginia 23219 and its telephone number is (804) 643-1761. The Company
has seven  regional  property  management  offices,  located in  Blacksburg  and
Virginia Beach,  Virginia;  Raleigh,  Charlotte and Wilmington,  North Carolina;
Columbia,  South  Carolina;  and Atlanta,  Georgia.  The Company  currently  has
approximately 400 employees,  including specialists in acquisition,  management,
marketing, leasing, development, accounting and information systems.


OPERATING STRATEGIES

     The Company  maintains an intense focus on the operations of its Properties
to generate  consistent,  sustained  growth in net  operating  income,  which it
believes is the key to growing funds from operations.

     The Company seeks to grow net operating  income and increase  Company value
through active  property  management,  which includes  keeping rents at or above
market levels,  maintaining high economic  occupancy  through tenant  retention,
creating a property  identity  and  effectively  marketing  each  property,  and
controlling operating expenses at the property level.

     The  Company  also seeks to  generate  growth in net  operating  income and
Company value through acquisitions by acquiring  under-performing assets at less
than replacement  cost,  correcting  operational  problems,  and making selected
renovations.  The Company  undertakes such activities with a view toward raising
rents while maintaining or increasing  economic occupancy at its properties.  In
markets that it targets for acquisition  opportunities,  the Company attempts to
gain a significant local presence in order to achieve operating efficiencies. In
analyzing  acquisition  opportunities,  the Company  considers  acquisitions  of
property portfolios as well as individual properties.



FINANCING POLICY


     The Company's objective is to seek capital as needed at the lowest possible
cost.  The Company may seek  capital  through the  issuance of Debt  Securities,
Common Shares, Preferred Shares, some combination of the foregoing, and in other
ways.  Historically,  the Company has obtained capital  principally  through the
public  issuance of Common Shares and through  unsecured  lines of credit from a
bank. The Company is not precluded from engaging in secured borrowings, although
its current policy is to hold its properties on an unmortgaged  basis, and as of
the date of this Prospectus, it has no secured debt.

     The Company's  current  unsecured  line of credit (the  "Unsecured  Line of
Credit")  was closed on October 30,  1997 and is in a principal  amount of up to
$175 million.  The lenders are a consortium  of banks with First Union  National
Bank as agent.  The Unsecured Line of Credit  currently  bears interest equal to
one-month LIBOR plus 1.20%.  The formula for  determination of the interest rate
can  change  based on  changes  in  financial  condition  and debt  level of the
Company.  The entire  balance of the Unsecured  Line of Credit is due on October
30, 2000. 


     The Company has also obtained from First Union  National Bank of Virginia a
$7.5  million  unsecured  line of credit for  general  corporate  purposes  (the
"General Corporate Line"). This line of credit also bears interest at LIBOR plus
1.60%, adjusted monthly, and is due on March 31, 1998.


     In connection with the acquisition of the Trolley Square East Apartments in
1996, the Company  issued the seller a $5.5 million  unsecured  promissory  note
(the "Trolley Square Note"),  which bears interest at an effective rate of 6.65%
per annum and is due on June 1, 1999.


                                       3


<PAGE>

     The  Company  intends to  maintain a debt  policy  (the "Debt  Limitation")
limiting the Company's  total combined  indebtedness  plus its pro rata share of
indebtedness of any unconsolidated  investments ("Joint Venture Debt") to 40% of
the Company's total equity market  capitalization plus its combined indebtedness
(including   its  pro  rata  share  of  Joint  Venture   Debt)  ("Total   Market
Capitalization").


                                USE OF PROCEEDS

     Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the net
proceeds  from  the sale of the  Offered  Securities  will be used  for  general
corporate  purposes,  which  may  include  repayment  of  indebtedness,   making
improvements  to properties,  and the  acquisition and development of additional
properties.



                                 CERTAIN RATIOS

     The following  table sets forth the  Company's  ratios of earnings to fixed
charges for the periods indicated:






<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       NINE MONTHS
                                          ENDED               YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                      SEPTEMBER 30,    -------------------------------------
                                          1997          1996     1995      1994       1993
                                      --------------   ------   -------   --------   -------
<S>                                   <C>              <C>      <C>       <C>        <C>
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
 Actual                                   3.72          (a)     17.77     188.36     203.56
 Supplemental Pro Forma(b)                3.03          (a)
</TABLE>



- ----------
(a) Actual and  Supplemental  Pro Forma earnings for the year ended December 31,
    1996 were  inadequate  to cover  fixed  charges.  The  amounts  of  coverage
    deficiency were $4,169,849 and $1,102,351,  respectively, for the year ended
    December 31, 1996.

(b) To give effect to the 20 of the 21 property  acquisitions  in 1996 and 11 of
    the 13 property acquisitions in 1997 for the period of time not owned by the
    Company as reflected in the pro forma  statements of  operations  filed with
    the Company's Report on Form 8-K/A dated October 31, 1997.




                         DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES


GENERAL


     The  Senior  Securities,  if and  when  issued,  will be  issued  under  an
indenture (the "Senior Indenture"), between the Company and one or more trustees
meeting the  requirements of a trustee under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended  (the "TIA") (the  "Senior  Indenture  Trustee"),  and the  Subordinated
Securities,  if and  when  issued,  will  be  issued  under  an  indenture  (the
"Subordinated Indenture"),  between the Company and one or more trustees meeting
the  requirements  of a  trustee  under  the TIA  (the  "Subordinated  Indenture
Trustee").  The term  "Trustee,"  as used  herein,  shall  refer  to the  Senior
Indenture Trustee or the Subordinated  Indenture  Trustee,  as appropriate.  The
forms of the Senior  Indenture and the  Subordinated  Indenture (being sometimes
referred to herein  collectively  as the  "Indentures"  and  individually  as an
"Indenture")  are filed as exhibits to the  Registration  Statement  and will be
available for inspection at the respective  Corporate Trust Office (as such term
is  defined  in  the  Indentures)  of  the  Senior  Indenture  Trustee  and  the
Subordinated  Indenture Trustee, or as described under "Available  Information."
The Indentures will be subject to,  qualified  under,  and governed by, the TIA.
The statements  made herein  relating to the Indentures and the Debt  Securities
are summaries of certain provisions  thereof,  do not purport to be complete and
are  subject  to, and are  qualified  in their  entirety  by  reference  to, all
provisions of the Indentures  and the Debt  Securities.  All section  references
appearing herein are to sections of the Indentures,  and capitalized  terms used
but not defined herein have the respective  meanings set forth in the Indentures
and the Debt Securities. 


                                       4


<PAGE>

TERMS


     The Debt Securities will be direct,  unsecured  obligations of the Company.
The indebtedness represented by the Senior Securities will rank equally with all
other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company. The indebtedness
represented by the  Subordinated  Securities  will be  subordinated  in right of
payment  to the prior  payment  in full of the Senior  Debt of the  Company,  as
described under "Subordination."


     Each  Indenture  provides that the Debt  Securities  may be issued  without
limit as to aggregate  principal  amount, in one or more series, in each case as
established  from  time  to  time  in or  pursuant  to  authority  granted  by a
resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company or as  established in one or
more indentures  supplemental  to such Indenture.  Debt Securities may be issued
with terms different from those of Debt Securities  previously  issued. All Debt
Securities  of one  series  need not be  issued  at the same  time  and,  unless
otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the Holders
of the  Debt  Securities  of such  series,  for  issuances  of  additional  Debt
Securities of such series (Section 301 of each Indenture).


     Each Indenture provides that there may be more than one Trustee thereunder,
each with respect to one or more series of Debt  Securities.  Any Trustee  under
either  Indenture may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of
Debt Securities, and a successor Trustee may be appointed to act with respect to
such  series  (Section  608 of each  Indenture).  In the event  that two or more
persons  are  acting  as  Trustee  with  respect  to  different  series  of Debt
Securities, each such Trustee shall be a Trustee of a trust under the applicable
Indenture  separate and apart from the trust  administered  by any other Trustee
(Sections 101 and 609 of each  Indenture),  and,  except as otherwise  indicated
herein,  any action  described herein to be taken by the Company may be taken by
each such  Trustee  with  respect to, and only with  respect to, the one or more
series  of  Debt  Securities  for  which  it is  Trustee  under  the  applicable
Indenture.


     Reference is made to the  Prospectus  Supplement  relating to the series of
Debt Securities being offered for the specific terms thereof, including:


       (1) the title of such Debt  Securities  and whether such Debt  Securities
   are Senior Securities or Subordinated Securities;


       (2) the aggregate  principal amount of such Debt Securities and any limit
   on such principal amount;


       (3) the percentage of the principal  amount at which such Debt Securities
   will be issued and, if other than the principal  amount thereof,  the portion
   of the principal  amount  payable upon  declaration  of  acceleration  of the
   maturity  thereof,  or (if applicable) the portion of the principal amount of
   such Debt Securities that is convertible  into Capital Shares of the Company,
   or the method by which any such portion will be determined;


       (4) if convertible,  in connection with the preservation of the Company's
   status  as  a  REIT,   any   applicable   limitations  on  the  ownership  or
   transferability  of the Capital  Shares of the  Company  into which such Debt
   Securities are convertible;


       (5) the date or dates,  or the method by which such date or dates will be
   determined,  on which the principal of such Debt  Securities  will be payable
   and the amount of principal payable thereon;


       (6) The rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which such Debt
   Securities  will bear  interest,  if any, or the method by which such rate or
   rates will be  determined,  the date or dates from which such  interest  will
   accrue or the  method by which  such date or dates  will be  determined,  the
   Interest  Payment  Dates on which any such  interest  will be payable and the
   Regular  Record Dates for such Interest  Payment Dates or the method by which
   such Dates will be  determined,  and the basis  upon which  interest  will be
   calculated if  other than that of a 360-day year consisting of twelve  30-day
   months;


                                       5

<PAGE>

       (7) the  place or places  where the  principal  of (and  premium or Make-
   Whole  Amount (as defined in each Indenture),  if any), interest, if any, on,
   and Additional  Amounts,  if any, payable in respect of, such Debt Securities
   will  be  payable,   where  such  Debt  Securities  may  be  surrendered  for
   registration  of transfer or exchange and where notices or demands to or upon
   the Company in respect of such Debt  Securities and the applicable  Indenture
   may be served;

       (8) the period or periods  within which,  the price or prices  (including
   premium or Make-Whole  Amount,  if any) at which, the currency or currencies,
   currency  unit or units or composite  currency or  currencies  in which,  and
   other terms and conditions  upon which,  such Debt Securities may be redeemed
   in whole or in part, at the option of the Company,  if the Company is to have
   the option;

       (9) the obligation,  if any, of the Company to redeem,  repay or purchase
   such Debt Securities  pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous  provision or
   at the option of a Holder thereof,  and the period or periods within which or
   the date or dates on which,  the price or process at which,  the  currency or
   currencies,  currency  unit or units or composite  currency or  currencies in
   which, and other terms and conditions upon which such Debt Securities will be
   redeemed,  repaid  or  purchased,  in  whole  or in  part,  pursuant  to such
   obligation;

       (10) whether such Debt  Securities  will be in  registered or bearer form
   and terms and conditions relating thereto,  and, if other than $1,000 and any
   integral  multiple  thereof,  the  denominations in which any registered Debt
   Securities  will be issuable and, if other than $5,000,  the  denomination or
   denominations in which any bearer Debt Securities will be issuable;

       (11) if other than United States  dollars,  the currency or currencies in
   which such Debt Securities  will be denominated  and payable,  which may be a
   foreign  currency or units of two or more foreign  currencies  or a composite
   currency or currencies;

       (12) whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium or Make-
   Whole  Amount,  if any) or interest,  if any, on such Debt  Securities may be
   determined with reference to an index,  formula or other method (which index,
   formula  or  method  may  be  based,  without  limitation,  on  one  or  more
   currencies, currency units, composite currencies, commodities, equity indices
   or other indices), and the manner in which such amounts will be determined;

       (13) whether the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole  Amount, if any)
   or interest or Additional  Amounts, if any, on such Debt Securities are to be
   payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in a currency or
   currencies,  currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies other
   than  that in which  such Debt  Securities  are  denominated  or stated to be
   payable,  the period or periods  within which,  and the terms and  conditions
   upon  which,  such  election  may be made,  and the time and  manner  of, and
   identity of the exchange rate agent with responsibility for,  determining the
   exchange rate between the currency or  currencies,  currency unit or units or
   composite   currency  or  currencies  in  which  such  Debt   Securities  are
   denominated or stated to be payable and the currency or currencies,  currency
   unit or units  or  composite  currency  or  currencies  in  which  such  Debt
   Securities are to be so payable;

       (14) provisions,  if any,  granting special rights to the Holders of such
   Debt Securities upon the occurrence of such events as may be specified;

       (15) any deletions from,  modifications  of or additions to the Events of
   Default or covenants  of the Company  with  respect to such Debt  Securities,
   whether or not such Events of Default or covenants  are  consistent  with the
   Events of Default or covenants set forth in the applicable Indenture;

       (16) whether such Debt Securities will be issued in certificated or book-
   entry form;

       (17) the applicability, if any, of the defeasance and covenant defeasance
   provisions of Article Fourteen of the applicable Indenture;

       (18) whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay Additional
   Amounts as contemplated  in the applicable  Indenture on such Debt Securities
   in respect of any tax,  assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether
   the Company will have the option to redeem such Debt  Securities  rather than
   pay such Additional Amounts (and the terms of any such option);



                                       6


<PAGE>

       (19) the  obligation,  if any, of the Company to permit the conversion of
   the Debt  Securities  of such series into Common or  Preferred  Shares of the
   Company  and the terms and  conditions  upon which such  conversion  shall be
   effected; and

       (20) any other terms of such Debt  Securities not  inconsistent  with the
   provisions of the applicable Indenture (Section 301 of each Indenture).

     The Debt Securities may provide for less than the entire  principal  amount
thereof to be payable upon  declaration of acceleration of the maturity  thereof
("Original Issue Discount Securities") (Section 502 of each Indenture).  Special
United States federal income tax, accounting and other considerations applicable
to Original  Issue  Discount  Securities  will be  described  in the  applicable
Prospectus Supplement.

DENOMINATION, INTEREST, REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER

     Unless otherwise  specified in the applicable  Prospectus  Supplement,  the
Debt  Securities  of any series  issued in  registered  form will be issuable in
denominations  of  $1,000  and  integral  multiples  thereof.  Unless  otherwise
specified in the applicable  Prospectus  Supplement,  the Debt Securities of any
series  issued  in bearer  form  will be  issuable  in  denominations  of $5,000
(Section 302 of each Indenture).

     Unless otherwise  specified in the applicable  Prospectus  Supplement,  the
principal  of (and  premium or  Make-Whole  Amount,  if any) and interest on any
series of Senior Securities will be payable at the corporate trust office of the
Senior Indenture Trustee and the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount,
if any) and interest on any series of Subordinated Securities will be payable at
the corporate trust office of the Subordinated Indenture Trustee;  provided that
at the  option  of the  Company  payment  of  interest  on any  series  of  Debt
Securities  may be made by check  mailed to the  address of the Person  entitled
thereto  as it  appears  in the  Security  Register  for such  series or by wire
transfer  of funds to such  Person at an  account  maintained  within the United
States (Sections 301, 305, 306, 307 and 1002 of each Indenture).

     Any  interest  not  punctually  paid or duly  provided  for on any Interest
Payment  Date  with  respect  to a Debt  Security  ("Defaulted  Interest")  will
forthwith  cease to be payable to the Holder on the  applicable  Regular  Record
Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose  name such Debt  Security  is
registered  at the close of  business  on a special  record  date (the  "Special
Record  Date") for the  payment of such  Defaulted  Interest  to be fixed by the
Company,  notice  whereof shall be given to the Holder of such Debt Security not
less than 10 days prior to such Special  Record Date, or may be paid at any time
in any other lawful manner,  all as more completely  described in the applicable
Indenture (Section 307 of each Indenture).

     Subject to certain  limitations imposed upon Debt Securities issued in book
- -entry form, the Debt  Securities of any series will be  exchangeable  for other
Debt Securities of the same series and of a like aggregate  principal amount and
tenor  of  different  authorized  denominations  upon  surrender  of  such  Debt
Securities at the corporate trust office of the applicable  Trustee  referred to
above. In addition,  subject to certain limitations imposed upon Debt Securities
issued in book-entry  form, the Debt Securities of any series may be surrendered
for conversion or registration of transfer thereof at the corporate trust office
of the applicable Trustee referred to above. Every Debt Security surrendered for
conversion,  registration  of  transfer or  exchange  shall be duly  endorsed or
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer.  No service charge will be made
for any  registration  or transfer or exchange of any Debt  Securities,  but the
Company  may  require  payment  of a sum  sufficient  to cover  any tax or other
governmental  charge  payable  in  connection  therewith  (Section  305 of  each
Indenture). If the applicable Prospectus Supplement refers to any transfer agent
(in addition to the applicable Trustee) initially designated by the Company with
respect to any series of Debt  Securities,  the Company may at any time  rescind
the  designation  of any such transfer agent or approve a change in the location
through which such transfer agent acts, except that the Company will be required
to  maintain a transfer  agent in each Place of  Payment  for such  series.  The
Company may at any time designate additional transfer agents with respect to any
series of Debt Securities (Section 1002 of each Indenture).

     Neither  the  Company  nor either  Trustee  shall be required to (i) issue,
register  the transfer of or exchange  Debt  Securities  of any series  during a
period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of Debt
Securities of that series to be redeemed and ending at the close of business


                                       7

<PAGE>


on the day of mailing of the relevant  notice or  redemption;  (ii) register the
transfer  of or  exchange  any Debt  Security,  or portion  thereof,  called for
redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any Debt Security being redeemed in
part;  or (iii) issue,  register  the transfer of or exchange any Debt  Security
which has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the Holder, except the
portion,  if any, of such Debt Security not to be so repaid (Section 305 of each
Indenture).

MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR SALE

     The  Company  may  consolidate  with,  or  sell,  lease  or  convey  all or
substantially  all of its assets to, or merge  with or into,  any other  entity,
provided  that (a) either the Company  shall be the  continuing  entity,  or the
successor  entity (if other than the Company)  formed by or  resulting  from any
such  consolidation  or merger or which shall have received the transfer of such
assets is a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States or
any State thereof and shall  expressly  assume  payment of the principal of (and
premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest on all of the Debt Securities
and the due and punctual  performance and observance of all of the covenants and
conditions  contained in each Indenture;  (b) immediately after giving effect to
such  transaction and treating any  indebtedness  which becomes an obligation of
the Company or any Subsidiary as a result thereof as having been incurred by the
Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction,  no Event of Default
under an  Indenture,  and no event which,  after notice or the lapse of time, or
both,  would  become  such an Event  of  Default,  shall  have  occurred  and be
continuing;  and (c) an Officers'  Certificate  and legal opinion  covering such
conditions  shall be  delivered  to the  Company  (Sections  801 and 803 of each
Indenture).

CERTAIN COVENANTS

     The Indentures do not contain any  provisions  that would limit the ability
of the Company to incur  indebtedness  or that would afford  Holders of the Debt
Securities  protection in the event of a highly leveraged or similar transaction
involving  the  Company  or in the event of a change of  control.  However,  the
Bylaws of the Company include provisions for redemption and stopping transfer of
its Common Shares designed to preserve the Company's  status as a REIT. The Code
provides  that  concentration  of more than 50% in value of  direct or  indirect
ownership of Common Shares in five or fewer individual  shareholders  during the
last six months of any year will result in  disqualification of the Company as a
REIT.  Enforcement of the provisions of the Company's  Bylaws would prevent such
concentration and, therefore,  prevent or hinder a change of control.  Reference
is made to the applicable  Prospectus Supplement for information with respect to
any deletions  from,  modifications  of or additions to the Events of Default or
covenants of the Company that are described herein,  including any addition of a
covenant or other provision providing event risk or similar protection.

     Existence.  Except as  described  above under "- Merger,  Consolidation  or
Sale," the Company will do or cause to be done all things  necessary to preserve
and keep in full force and effect the existence,  rights (charter and statutory)
and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries;  provided, however, that the
Company  shall  not be  required  to  preserve  any  right  or  franchise  if it
determines that the  preservation  thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct
of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as a whole and that the loss
thereof is not  disadvantageous  in any  material  respect to the Holders of the
Debt Securities of any series (Section 1005 of each Indenture).

     Maintenance  of  Properties.  The Company will cause all of its  properties
used or useful in the conduct of its business or the business of any  Subsidiary
to be  maintained  and kept in good  condition,  repair  and  working  order and
supplied  with all  necessary  equipment and will cause to be made all necessary
repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in
the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the business  carried on in
connection therewith may be properly and advantageously  conducted at all times;
provided,  however, that the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be prevented
from  selling  or  otherwise  disposing  of for value  their  properties  in the
ordinary course of business (Section 1006 of each Indenture).

     Insurance.  The Company will, and will cause each of its  Subsidiaries  to,
keep all of its insurable properties insured against loss or damage in an amount
at least equal to their then full  insurable  value with  financially  sound and
reputable insurance companies (Section 1007 of each Indenture).


                                       8

<PAGE>


     Payment of Taxes and Other  Claims.  The Company  will pay or  discharge or
cause to be paid or  discharged,  before the same  become  delinquent,  (ii) all
taxes,  assessments  and  governmental  charges levied or imposed upon it or any
Subsidiary  or upon the  income,  profits  or  property  of the  Company  or any
Subsidiary,  and (ii) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which,
if unpaid,  might by law become a lien upon the  property  of the Company or any
Subsidiary;  provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay or
discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment,  charge or
claim whose amount,  applicability  or validity is being contested in good faith
by appropriate proceedings (Section 1008 of each Indenture).


EVENTS OF DEFAULT, NOTICE AND WAIVER

     Each Indenture  provides that the following  events are "Events of Default"
with respect to any series of Debt Securities issued thereunder: (a) default for
30 days in the payment of any  installment  of interest  or  Additional  Amounts
payable on any Debt  Security of such series;  (b) default in the payment of the
principal of (or premium or Make-Whole  Amount, if any, on) any Debt Security of
such series at its  Maturity;  (c) default in making any sinking fund payment as
required for any Debt Security of such series; (d) default in the performance of
any other  covenant  of the Company  contained  in the  Indenture  (other than a
covenant  added to the  Indenture  solely  for the  benefit  of a series of Debt
Securities  issued  thereunder  other than such  series),  continued for 60 days
after written notice as provided in the  Indenture;  (e) default under any bond,
debenture,  note,  mortgage,  indenture or  instrument  under which there may be
issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any  indebtedness for money
borrowed  by the  Company  (or by any  Subsidiary,  the  repayment  of which the
Company  has  guaranteed  or for which the Company is  directly  responsible  or
liable as obligor or guarantor) having an aggregate principal amount outstanding
of at least $10,000,000, whether such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter
be  created,  which  default  shall have  resulted  in such  indebtedness  being
declared  due and  payable  prior to the date on which it would  otherwise  have
become due and  payable,  without  such  acceleration  having been  rescinded or
annulled  within 10 days after written notice as provided in the Indenture;  (f)
the entry by a court of competent jurisdiction of one or more judgments,  orders
or  decrees  against  the  Company  or any  Subsidiary  in an  aggregate  amount
(excluding amounts fully covered by insurance) in excess of $10,000,000 and such
judgments, orders or decrees remain undischarged, unstayed and unsatisfied in an
aggregate  amount  (excluding  amounts  fully covered by insurance) in excess of
$10,000,000  for  a  period  of 30  consecutive  days;  (g)  certain  events  of
bankruptcy,  insolvency or  reorganization,  or court appointment of a receiver,
liquidator or trustee of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or for all or
substantially all of either of its property;  and (h) any other Event of Default
provided  with  respect to such series of Debt  Securities  (Section 501 of each
Indenture).  The term "Significant Subsidiary" means each significant subsidiary
(as defined in  Regulation  S-X  promulgated  under the  Securities  Act) of the
Company.

     If an  Event  of  Default  under  either  Indenture  with  respect  to Debt
Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing,  then
in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in  principal
amount of the  Outstanding  Debt  Securities  of that  series  may  declare  the
principal  amount (or, if the Debt  Securities of that series are Original Issue
Discount Securities or Indexed Securities,  such portion of the principal amount
as may be specified in the terms thereof) of, and premium or Make-Whole  Amount,
if any,  on, all of the Debt  Securities  of that  series to be due and  payable
immediately by written notice thereof to the Company. However, at any time after
such declaration of acceleration  with respect to Debt Securities of such series
(or of all Debt Securities then Outstanding under the applicable  Indenture,  as
the case may be) has been made,  but before a judgment  or decree for payment of
the money due has been  obtained by the Trustee,  the Holders of not less than a
majority in principal  amount of the Outstanding  Debt Securities of such series
(or of all Debt Securities then Outstanding under the applicable  Indenture,  as
the case may be) may rescind and annul such  declaration and its consequences if
(a) the Company shall have deposited  with the Trustee all required  payments of
the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole  Amount,  if any) and interest,  and
any Additional  Amounts,  on the Debt  Securities of such series (or of all Debt
Securities then Outstanding under the applicable Indenture, as the case may be),
plus certain fees,  expenses,  disbursements and advances of the Trustee and (b)
all Events of Default,  other than the nonpayment of  accelerated  principal (or
specified


                                       9

<PAGE>


portion thereof and the premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest,  with
respect to the Debt  Securities of such series (or of all Debt  Securities  then
Outstanding under the applicable Indenture,  as the case may be) have been cured
or waived as provided in the  Indenture  (Section 502 of each  Indenture).  Each
Indenture  also  provides  that the  Holders  of not  less  than a  majority  in
principal  amount of the  Outstanding  Debt  Securities of any series (or of all
Debt Securities then Outstanding under the applicable Indenture, as the case may
be) may waive any past default with respect to such series and its consequences,
except a default  (x) in the  payment of the  principal  of (or  premium or Make
- -Whole  Amount,  if any) or interest or Additional  Amounts  payable on any Debt
Security of such series or (y) in respect of a covenant or  provision  contained
in the  applicable  Indenture  that cannot be  modified  or amended  without the
consent  of the  Holder  of each  Outstanding  Debt  Security  affected  thereby
(Section 513 of each Indenture).

     Each  Trustee is required to give notice to the Holders of Debt  Securities
within 90 days of a default under the applicable Indenture;  provided,  however,
that such  Trustee  may  withhold  notice to the  Holders  of any series of Debt
Securities  of any default with respect to such series  (except a default in the
payment  of the  principal  of (or  premium  or  Make-Whole  Amount,  if any) or
interest or Additional Amounts payable on any Debt Security of such series or in
the payment of any sinking fund  installment  in respect of any Debt Security of
such  series)  if  the  Responsible  Officers  of  such  Trustee  consider  such
withholding  to be in  the  interest  of  such  Holders  (Section  601  of  each
Indenture).

     Each  Indenture  provides that no Holders of Debt  Securities of any series
may  institute  any  proceedings,  judicial or  otherwise,  with respect to such
Indenture  or for any  remedy  thereunder,  except in the case of failure of the
Trustee,  for 60 days,  to act  after  it has  received  a  written  request  to
institute  proceedings in respect of an Event of Default from the Holders of not
less than 25% in principal  amount of the  Outstanding  Debt  Securities of such
series,  as  well as an  offer  of  reasonable  indemnity  (Section  507 of each
Indenture).  This  provision  will not  prevent,  however,  any  Holder  of Debt
Securities from instituting suit for the enforcement of payment of the principal
of (and  premium of  Make-Whole  Amount,  if any),  interest  on and  Additional
Amounts  payable with respect to, such Debt  Securities  at the  respective  due
dates thereof (Section 508 of each Indenture).

MODIFICATION OF THE INDENTURES

     Modifications  and  amendments  of  either  Indenture  may be made with the
consent of the  Holders of not less than a majority in  principal  amount of all
Outstanding  Debt  Securities  issued under such  Indenture that are affected by
such modification or amendment;  provided, however, that no such modification or
amendment  may,  without  the  consent of the Holder of each such Debt  Security
affected thereby, (a) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of (or premium
or Make-Whole Amount, if any), or any installment of principal of or interest or
Additional Amounts payable on, any such Debt Security;  (b) reduce the principal
amount of, or the rate or amount of interest  on, or any  premium or  Make-Whole
Amount payable on redemption of, or any Additional  Amounts payable with respect
to, any such Debt  Security,  or reduce the amount of  principal  of an Original
Issue  Discount  Security or  Make-Whole  Amount,  if any, that would be due and
payable upon  declaration of  acceleration  of the maturity  thereof or would be
provable in bankruptcy, or adversely affect any right of repayment of the Holder
of any such Debt  Security;  (c)  change  the Place of  Payment,  or the coin or
currency,  for payment of  principal of (and premium or  Make-Whole  Amount,  if
any),  or interest on, or any  Additional  Amounts  payable with respect to, any
such Debt Security;  (d) impair the right to institute suit for the  enforcement
of any  payment  on or with  respect to any such Debt  Security;  (e) reduce the
percentage of Outstanding  Debt Securities of any series  necessary to modify or
amend the applicable  Indenture,  to waive  compliance  with certain  provisions
thereof or certain defaults and consequences  thereunder or to reduce the quorum
or voting  requirements  set forth in the  Indenture;  or (f)  modify any of the
foregoing  provisions or any of the provisions relating to the waiver of certain
past defaults or certain covenants,  except to increase the required  percentage
to effect such action or to provide that  certain  other  provisions  may not be
modified  or waived  without  the  consent of the  Holder of such Debt  Security
(Section 902 of each Indenture).


                                       10

<PAGE>


     The Holders of not less than a majority in principal  amount of Outstanding
Debt Securities issued under either Indenture have the right to waive compliance
by the Company with certain  covenants in such  Indenture  (Section 1012 of each
Indenture).


SUBORDINATION

     Upon  any  distribution  to  creditors  of the  Company  in a  liquidation,
dissolution or  reorganization,  the payment of the principal of and interest on
the  Subordinated  Securities will be subordinated to the extent provided in the
Subordinated  Indenture in right of payment to the prior  payment in full of all
Senior Debt  (Sections  1601 and 1602 of the  Subordinated  Indenture),  but the
obligation  of the Company to make payment of the  principal and interest on the
Subordinated  Securities  will not  otherwise be affected  (Section  1608 of the
Subordinated Indenture).  No payment of principal or interest may be made on the
Subordinated  Securities  at any time if a default on Senior  Debt  exists  that
permits  the  holders of such Senior Debt to  accelerate  its  maturity  and the
default is the subject of judicial proceedings or the Company receives notice of
the default (Section 1603 of the Subordinated Indenture).  After all Senior Debt
is paid in full and until the Subordinated  Securities are paid in full, holders
will be  subrogated  to the rights of holders of Senior  Debt to the extent that
distributions  otherwise  payable to holders have been applied to the payment of
Senior Debt  (Section  1607 of the  Subordinated  Indenture).  By reason of such
subordination, in the event of a distribution of assets upon insolvency, certain
general creditors of the Company may recover more, ratably,  than holders of the
Subordinated Securities.

     Senior Debt is defined in the  Subordinated  Indenture as the  principal of
and interest on, or substantially  similar payments to be made by the Company in
respect of, the following,  whether  outstanding at the date of execution of the
Subordinated   Indenture  or  thereafter  incurred,   created  or  assumed:  (a)
indebtedness of the Company for money borrowed or represented by  purchase-money
obligations,  (b) indebtedness of the Company evidenced by notes, debentures, or
bonds, or other securities  issued under the provisions of an indenture,  fiscal
agency agreement or other  instrument,  (c) obligations of the Company as lessee
under  leases  of  property  either  made  as  part of any  sale  and  leaseback
transaction to which the Company is a party or otherwise,  (d)  indebtedness  of
partnerships and joint ventures that is included in the  consolidated  financial
statements of the Company,  (e)  indebtedness,  obligations  and  liabilities of
others in respect of which the Company is liable  contingently  or  otherwise to
pay or advance money or property or as guarantor, endorser or otherwise or which
the Company has agreed to purchase  or  otherwise  acquire,  and (f) any binding
commitment  of the  Company to fund any real  estate  investment  or to fund any
investment in any entity making such real estate investment,  in each case other
than (1) any such  indebtedness,  obligation or liability referred to in clauses
(a) through (f) above as to which, in the instrument  creating or evidencing the
same  pursuant  to which  the same is  outstanding,  it is  provided  that  such
indebtedness, obligation or liability is not superior in right of payment to the
Subordinated  Securities or ranks pari passu with the  Subordinated  Securities,
(2) any such  indebtedness,  obligation or liability  which is  subordinated  to
indebtedness of the Company to substantially  the same extent as or to a greater
extent  than  the   Subordinated   Securities  are   subordinated  and  (3)  the
Subordinated Securities (Section 101 of the Subordinated  Indenture).  There are
no restrictions in the Senior Indenture or the  Subordinated  Indenture upon the
creation of additional Senior Debt.


DISCHARGE, DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

     Under each  Indenture,  the Company may discharge  certain  obligations  to
Holders of any series of Debt Securities issued thereunder that have not already
been delivered to the applicable  Trustee for  cancellation and that either have
become  due and  payable  or will  become  due and  payable  within one year (or
scheduled for  redemption  within one year) by irrevocably  depositing  with the
applicable  Trustee,  in trust,  funds in such currency or currencies,  currency
unit or units or composite  currency or currencies in which such Debt Securities
are payable in an amount sufficient to pay the entire  indebtedness on such Debt
Securities in respect of principal  (and premium or Make-Whole  Amount,  if any)
and interest and any Additional  Amounts payable to the date of such deposit (if
such Debt  Securities  have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or
Redemption Date, as the case may be (Section 401 of each Indenture).


                                       11

<PAGE>


     Each Indenture provides that, if the provisions of Article Fourteen thereof
are made  applicable to the Debt  Securities of or within any series pursuant to
Section 301 of such  Indenture,  the Company may elect either (a) to defease and
be discharged from any and all obligations  with respect to such Debt Securities
(except  for  the  obligation  to pay  Additional  Amounts,  if  any,  upon  the
occurrence  of certain  events of tax,  assessment or  governmental  charge with
respect to payments on such Debt  Securities and the obligations to register the
transfer or exchange of such Debt Securities, to replace temporary or mutilated,
destroyed,  lost or stolen Debt  Securities,  to maintain an office or agency in
respect  of such  Debt  Securities  and to hold  moneys  for  payment  in trust)
("defeasance")  (Section 1402 of each  Indenture) or (b) to be released from its
obligations  with  respect  to such Debt  Securities  under  provisions  of each
Indenture  described under "- Certain  Covenants,"  or, if provided  pursuant to
Section  301 of each  Indenture,  its  obligations  with  respect  to any  other
covenant,  and any omission to comply with such obligations shall not constitute
a default or an Event or Default with respect to such Debt Securities ("covenant
defeasance")  (Section  1403  of  each  Indenture),  in  either  case  upon  the
irrevocable  deposit by the Company with the applicable Trustee, in trust, of an
amount,  in such  currency or  currencies,  currency  unit or currency  units or
composite  currency or currencies in which such Debt  Securities  are payable at
Stated  Maturity,  or  Government  Obligations  (as  defined  below),  or  both,
applicable  to such Debt  Securities  which  through  the  scheduled  payment of
principal and interest in  accordance  with their terms will provide money in an
amount sufficient to pay the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole  Amount, if
any) and interest on such Debt  Securities,  and any  mandatory  sinking fund or
analogous payments thereon, on the scheduled due dates therefor.

     Such a trust may only be  established  if, among other things,  the Company
has delivered to the  applicable  Trustee an Opinion of Counsel (as specified in
each  Indenture) to the effect that the Holders of such Debt Securities will not
recognize income,  gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as
a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to United
States  federal  income tax on the same  amounts,  in the same manner and at the
same times as would have been the case if such defeasance or covenant defeasance
had not occurred,  and such Opinion of Counsel, in the case of defeasance,  must
refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal  Revenue Service or a change
in applicable  United States federal income tax laws occurring after the date of
such Indenture (Section 1404 of each Indenture).

     "Government  Obligations" means securities which are (i) direct obligations
of the United  States of  America or the  government  which  issued the  Foreign
Currency in which the Debt  Securities of a particular  series are payable,  for
the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of
a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or  instrumentality
of the United  States of  America or the  government  which  issued the  Foreign
Currency in which the Debt Securities of such series are payable, the payment of
which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the
United States of America or such other  government,  which,  in either case, are
not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer  thereof,  and shall also
include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with
respect to any such Government  Obligation or a specific  payment of interest on
or principal of any such  Government  Obligation  held by such custodian for the
account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required
by law) such  custodian is not  authorized to make any deduction from the amount
payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the
custodian in respect of the  Government  Obligation  or the specific  payment of
interest  on or  principal  of  the  Government  Obligation  evidenced  by  such
depository receipt (Section 101 of each Indenture).

     Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, if after
the  Company  has  deposited  funds  and/or  Government  Obligations  to  effect
defeasance or covenant defeasance with respect to Debt Securities of any series,
(a) the Holder of a Debt Security of such series is entitled to, and does, elect
pursuant to Section 301 of either  Indenture or the terms of such Debt  Security
to receive payment in a currency, currency unit or composite currency other than
that in which such  deposit has been made in respect of such Debt  Security,  or
(b) a Conversion  Event (as defined  below)  occurs in respect of the  currency,
currency  unit or composite  currency in which such  deposit has been made,  the
indebtedness represented by such Debt Security shall be deemed to have been, and
will be, fully discharged and satisfied  through the payment of the principal of
(and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if


                                       12

<PAGE>


any) and  interest on such Debt  Security as they become due out of the proceeds
yielded by  converting  the amount so deposited in respect of such Debt Security
into the  currency,  currency  unit or  composite  currency  in which  such Debt
Security becomes payable as a result of such election or such cessation of usage
based on the applicable  market exchange rate (Section 1405 of each  Indenture).
"Conversion  Event" means the cessation of use of (i) a currency,  currency unit
or composite  currency  (other than the ECU or other  currency unit) both by the
government  of the country that issued such  currency and for the  settlement of
transactions  by a central  bank or other public  institutions  of or within the
international banking community,  (ii) the ECU both within the European Monetary
System and for the  settlement  of  transactions  by public  institutions  of or
within the European Communities or (iii) any currency unit or composite currency
other  than  the ECU for the  purposes  for  which  it was  established.  Unless
otherwise  provided in the  applicable  Prospectus  Supplement,  all payments of
principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest on any Debt
Security  that is payable in a Foreign  Currency  that  ceases to be used by its
government of issuance  shall be made in United States  dollars  (Section 101 of
each Indenture).

     In the event the Company  effects  covenant  defeasance with respect to any
Debt Securities and such Debt Securities are declared due and payable because of
the occurrence of any Event of Default other than the Event of Default described
in clause (d) under "- Events of  Default,  Notice and Waiver"  with  respect to
Sections 1004 to 1009,  inclusive,  of either Indenture (which Sections would no
longer be applicable to such Debt  Securities)  or described in clause (g) under
"- Events of Default,  Notice and Waiver" with respect to a covenant as to which
there has been covenant defeasance,  the amount in such currency,  currency unit
or composite currency in which such Debt Securities are payable,  and Government
Obligations  on deposit with the Company,  will be sufficient to pay amounts due
on such Debt  Securities  at the time of their  Stated  Maturity  but may not be
sufficient  to pay  amounts  due on  such  Debt  Securities  at the  time of the
acceleration  resulting from such Event of Default.  However,  the Company would
remain liable to make payment of such amounts due at the time of acceleration.

     The applicable  Prospectus  Supplement may further describe the provisions,
if any,  permitting  such  defeasance  or  covenant  defeasance,  including  any
modifications  to the  provisions  described  above,  with  respect  to the Debt
Securities of or within a particular series.


CONVERSION RIGHTS

     The terms and  conditions,  if any,  upon  which  the Debt  Securities  are
convertible  into Capital Stock will be set forth in the  applicable  Prospectus
Supplement  relating  thereto.   Such  terms  will  include  whether  such  Debt
Securities  are  convertible  into Capital Stock of the Company,  the conversion
price (or manner of calculation thereof),  the conversion period,  provisions as
to whether  conversion will be at the option of the Holders or the Company,  the
events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price and provisions  affecting
conversion in the event of the redemption of such Debt Securities.


BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM

     The Debt  Securities  of a series  may be issued in whole or in part in the
form  of one or  more  global  securities  ("Global  Securities")  that  will be
deposited  with, or on behalf of a depository (the  "Depository")  identified in
the Prospectus  Supplement relating to such series.  Global Securities,  if any,
are expected to be deposited with The Depository  Trust Company,  as Depository.
Global  Securities may be issued in fully  registered  form and may be issued in
either temporary or permanent form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or
in part  for the  individual  Debt  Securities  represented  thereby,  a  Global
Security may not be  transferred  except as a whole by the  Depository  for such
Global  Security  to a  nominee  of  such  Depository  or by a  nominee  of such
Depository to such  Depository or another  nominee of such Depository or by such
Depository or any nominee of such  Depository  to a successor  Depository or any
nominee of such successor.

     The specific terms of the depository  arrangement  with respect to a series
of Debt  Securities will be described in the Prospectus  Supplement  relating to
such  series.  The  Company  expects  that  unless  otherwise  indicated  in the
applicable   Prospectus  Supplement  the  following  provisions  will  apply  to
depository arrangements.


                                       13


<PAGE>

     Upon the  issuance of a Global  Security,  the  Depository  for such Global
Security or its nominee will credit on its book-entry  registration and transfer
system the  respective  principal  amounts  of the  individual  Debt  Securities
represented  by such  Global  Security  to the  accounts  of  persons  that have
accounts  with  such  Depository   ("Participants").   Such  accounts  shall  be
designated  by the  underwriters,  dealers or agents  with  respect to such Debt
Securities or by the Company if such Debt Securities are offered directly by the
Company.  Ownership  of  beneficial  interests in such Global  Security  will be
limited to Participants or persons that may hold interests through Participants.
Ownership of beneficial  interests in such Global Security will be shown on, and
the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained
by the  Depository  for such Global  Security or its  nominee  (with  respect to
beneficial  interests of Participants) and records of Participants (with respect
to beneficial interests of persons who hold through  Participants).  The laws of
some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery
of such  securities  in  definitive  form.  Such  limits and laws may impair the
ability to own, pledge or transfer beneficial interest in a Global Security.

     So long as the  Depository  for a Global  Security  or its  nominee  is the
registered  owner of such Global Security,  such Depository or such nominee,  as
the case  may be,  will be  considered  the sole  owner  or  holder  of the Debt
Securities  represented  by such  Global  Security  for all  purposes  under the
applicable Indenture.  Except as described below or in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement,  owners of  beneficial  interest  in a Global  Security  will not be
entitled  to have any of the  individual  Debt  Securities  represented  by such
Global  Security  registered in their names,  will not receive or be entitled to
receive  physical  delivery of any such Debt  Securities in definitive  form and
will not be  considered  the  owners or  holders  thereof  under the  applicable
Indenture.

     Payments of principal of, any premium or Make-Whole Amount and any interest
on, or any Additional Amount payable with respect to, individual Debt Securities
represented by a Global  Security  registered in the name of a Depository or its
nominee will be made to the  Depository  or its nominee,  as the case may be, as
the registered owner of the Global Security.  None of the Company,  the Trustee,
any Paying Agent or the Security  Registrar for such debt  Securities  will have
any  responsibility  or liability  for any aspect of the records  relating to or
payment made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the Global Security
for such Debt  Securities  or for  maintaining,  supervising  or  reviewing  any
records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

     The Company  expects that the  Depository  for any Debt  Securities  or its
nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal,  premium,  Make-Whole Amount,
interest or Additional  Amounts in respect of the Global  Security  representing
such  Debt  Securities  will  immediately  credit  Participants'  accounts  with
payments in amounts  proportionate to their respective  beneficial  interests in
the  principal  amount of such  Global  Security as shown on the records of such
Depository   or  its  nominee.   The  Company  also  expects  that  payments  by
Participants  to owners of  beneficial  interests in such Global  Security  held
through  such  Participants  will  be  governed  by  standing  instructions  and
customary  practices,  as is the case with  securities  held for the  account of
customers in bearer form or registered in street name. Such payments will be the
responsibility of such Participants.

     If a Depository for any Debt Securities is at any time unwilling, unable or
ineligible to continue as depository and a successor depository is not appointed
by the Company within 90 days, the Company will issue individual Debt Securities
in  exchange  for the Global  Security  representing  such Debt  Securities.  In
addition, the Company may at any time and in its sole discretion, subject to any
limitations  described  in the  Prospectus  Supplement  relating  to  such  Debt
Securities, determine not to have any of such Debt Securities represented by one
or  more  Global  Securities  and in  such  event  will  issue  individual  Debt
Securities in exchange for the Global Security or Securities  representing  such
Debt  Securities.  Individual  Debt  Securities  so  issued  will be  issued  in
denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.


                                       14

<PAGE>


                         DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL SHARES


GENERAL


     The Company is authorized to issue 50,000,000  Common Shares, no par value.
At  December  31,  1997,  there  were  outstanding   35,510,327  Common  Shares.
Management of the Company  currently plans to submit to its  shareholders at the
1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders proposed amendments to the Company's Amended
and Restated Articles of Incorporation,  as amended (the "Articles")  amendments
that would increase the number of authorized  Common Shares to  100,000,000  and
that would authorize the issuance of up to 25,000,000  Preferred  Shares.  There
can be no assurance that such proposals, or similar or other proposals submitted
to the shareholders, would be approved by the shareholders.



     The following  statements  with respect to the capital stock of the Company
are subject to the detailed  provisions  of the Company's  Articles,  and bylaws
(the  "Bylaws") as currently in effect.  These  statements  do not purport to be
complete,  or to give full effect to the terms of the provisions of statutory or
common law, and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference
to, the terms of the  Articles  and  Bylaws,  which are filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement.


COMMON SHARES

     Holders of Common  Shares are  entitled  to receive  dividends  when and as
declared by the Board of  Directors.  Holders of Common Shares have one vote per
share and  non-cumulative  voting rights,  which means that holders of more than
50% of the  shares  voting at a  meeting  of  shareholders  at which a quorum is
present  can elect all of the  directors  if they  choose to do so, and, in such
event,  the  holders  of the  remaining  shares  will not be able to  elect  any
directors.  In  the  event  of  any  voluntary  or  involuntary  liquidation  or
dissolution  of the  Company,  holders of Common  Shares are  entitled  to share
ratably in the distributable  assets of the Company remaining after satisfaction
of all debts and  liabilities  of the Company.  Holders of Common  Shares do not
have preemptive  rights.  When issued,  the Common Shares are fully paid and non
- -assessable.

     The dividend and  liquidation  rights of holders of the Common Shares would
be subordinate to the interests of holders of Preferred Shares if, subsequent to
the date of this Prospectus,  the Articles are amended to permit the issuance of
Preferred Shares and Preferred Shares are issued.

     The transfer  agent for the Common  Shares is First Union  National Bank of
North Carolina,  Charlotte,  North Carolina. The Common Shares are traded on the
NYSE under the symbol "TCR".


REPURCHASE OF COMMON SHARES AND RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER

     Two of the requirements for  qualification  for the tax benefits accorded a
REIT under the Code are that (i) at no time during the last half of each taxable
year may more  than 50% in value of the  outstanding  Common  Shares  be  owned,
directly or indirectly, by or for five or fewer individuals, and (ii) there must
be at least 100  shareholders  for at least  335 days in any  taxable  year,  or
proportionate  part of any shorter  taxable year,  after its first taxable year.
See "Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations."

     In order that the Company  may meet these  requirements  at all times,  the
Bylaws  prohibit any person from  acquiring or holding,  directly or indirectly,
ownership of a number of Common Shares in excess of 9.8% of all the  outstanding
Common Shares. Common Shares owned by a person in excess of such amounts will be
referred to in the Bylaws and herein as "Excess  Shares."  For this  purpose the
term  "ownership"  is  defined in  accordance  with the  constructive  ownership
provisions  of Section  544 of the Code (as  modified  by Section  856(h) of the
Code).  Accordingly,  Common  Shares owned or deemed to be owned by a person who
individually owns less than 9.8% of the Common Shares  outstanding  nevertheless
may be Excess Shares.

     Holders of Excess  Shares are not entitled to voting  rights,  dividends or
distributions  with  respect  to the  Excess  Shares.  If,  after the  purported
transfer or other  event  resulting  in an exchange of Common  Shares for Excess
Shares and  before  discovery  by the  Company of such  exchange,  dividends  or
distributions  are paid with respect to Common  Shares that were  exchanged  for
Excess  Shares,  then such  dividends or  distributions  are to be repaid to the
Company upon demand.


                                       15

<PAGE>


     The  Bylaws  also  provide  that in the event any  person  acquires  Excess
Shares,  such Excess Shares may be redeemed by the Company, at the discretion of
the Board of  Directors.  Except as set forth below,  the  redemption  price for
redeemed  Excess Shares shall be the lesser of (i) the price paid for the Excess
Shares  (or if no  notice  of such  purchase  price is  given,  at a price to be
determined by the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion,  but no lower than
the lowest  market price for the Common Shares during the year prior to the date
the Company  exercises  its  purchase  option) and (ii) the fair market value of
such Excess Shares, which shall be the fair market value of the Common Shares as
determined  in good faith by the Board of Directors or, if the Common Shares are
listed on a national securities exchange,  the closing price (average of closing
bid and asked  prices if the Shares are  quoted on the  NASDAQ  National  Market
System) on the last business day prior to the redemption  date. To redeem Excess
Shares, the Board of Directors must give a notice of redemption to the holder of
such  Excess  Shares not less than one week prior to the date fixed by the Board
of Directors for  redemption.  The holder may sell such Excess Shares before the
date fixed for redemption.  If he does not, the redemption price for such Excess
Shares shall be paid on the redemption  date fixed by the Board of Directors and
included in such notice.  From and after the date fixed for redemption of Excess
Shares,  such Common Shares shall cease to be entitled to any  distributions and
other benefits, other than the right to payment of the redemption price for such
Common Shares. Under certain circumstances,  the proceeds of redemption might be
taxed as a distribution to the recipient.

     The constructive  ownership provisions  applicable under Section 544 of the
Code (as  modified  by  Section  856(h)  of the  Code)  attribute  ownership  of
securities by a corporation, partnership, estate or trust proportionately to its
shareholders, partners or beneficiaries, attribute ownership of securities owned
by family  members to other members of the same family,  treat  securities  with
respect to which a person has an option to purchase  as  actually  owned by that
person,  and set forth  rules as to when  securities  constructively  owned by a
person  are  considered  to be  actually  owned  for  the  application  of  such
attribution   provisions   (i.e.,   "reattribution").   Thus,  for  purposes  of
determining  whether a person holds Excess  Shares,  a person will be treated as
owning not only Common  Shares  actually  or  beneficially  owned,  but also any
Common Shares  attributed to such person under the  attribution  rules described
above. Ownership of Common Shares through such attribution is generally referred
to as constructive ownership.

     Under the Bylaws any acquisition of Common Shares of the Company that would
result in the  disqualification  of the Company as a REIT under the Code is void
to the fullest extent permitted by law, and the Board of Directors is authorized
to refuse to transfer Common Shares to a person if, as a result of the transfer,
that person would own Excess Shares. Prior to any transfer or transaction which,
if consummated, would cause a shareholder to own Excess Shares, and in any event
upon demand by the Board of Directors,  a  shareholder  is required to file with
the Company an affidavit setting forth, as to that shareholder,  the information
required  to be  reported  in  returns  filed  by  shareholders  under  Treasury
Regulation  Section  1.857-9  and in reports  filed under  Section  13(d) of the
Exchange Act.  Additionally,  each proposed  transferee of Common  Shares,  upon
demand of the Board of  Directors,  also may be required to file a statement  or
affidavit  with the Company  setting forth the number of Common  Shares  already
owned by the  transferee  and any  person to or from whom  Common  Shares may be
attributed by or to the transferee.

     Any certificates  evidencing  Common Shares will bear a legend referring to
the restrictions described herein. The ownership limitations described above may
have the effect of precluding changes in control of the Company, or preventing a
transaction in which some or all  shareholders  might receive a premium for sale
of a large or control block of Common Shares.


PREFERRED SHARES

     As of the  date of this  Prospectus,  the  Articles  do not  authorize  the
issuance of any Preferred  Shares.  If deemed to be in the best interests of the
Company,  the Company may propose  amendments  to the  Articles  permitting  the
issuance of Preferred Shares.  Any such amendments would require the approval of
the  holders of a majority of the  outstanding  Common  Shares.  There can be no
assurance that the Company will propose  amendments to the Articles  authorizing
the issuance of Preferred Shares or that


                                       16

<PAGE>


such  amendments,  if proposed,  would be adopted.  However,  management  of the
Company  currently  intends  to submit to the  shareholders  at the 1998  Annual
Meeting  of  Shareholders  a  proposed  amendment  to the  Articles  that  would
authorize  the  issuance  of up to  25,000,000  Preferred  Shares as well as (as
described above) increase the number of authorized Common Shares.

     The  following  description  of the terms of  Preferred  Shares  sets forth
certain  general terms and provisions of Preferred  Shares to which a Prospectus
Supplement may relate.  Specific terms of any series of Preferred Shares offered
by a Prospectus Supplement will be described in that Prospectus Supplement.  The
description  set forth  below is subject to and  qualified  in its  entirety  by
reference  to the  Articles of Amendment  to the  Articles,  if any,  fixing the
preferences, limitations and relative rights of a particular series of Preferred
Shares.

     General.  It is expected  that  Preferred  Shares  will have the  dividend,
liquidation,  redemption,  conversion  and voting  rights set forth below unless
otherwise provided in the Prospectus  Supplement relating to a particular series
of Preferred Shares.  Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement relating to
the particular  series of Preferred  Shares offered  thereby for specific terms,
including:  (i) the title and liquidation preference per share of such Preferred
Shares  and the number  offered;  (ii) the price at which  such  series  will be
issued;  (iii) the dividend rate (or method of calculation),  the dates on which
dividends  shall be payable and the dates from which dividends shall commence to
accumulate;  (iv) any redemption or sinking fund provisions of such series;  (v)
any  conversion  provisions of such series;  and (vi) any  additional  dividend,
liquidation, redemption, sinking fund and other rights, preferences, privileges,
limitations and restrictions of such series.

     The Preferred Shares will have no preemptive  rights.  The Preferred Shares
will, when issued, be fully paid and nonassessable.  Unless otherwise  specified
in the  Prospectus  Supplement  relating  to a  particular  series of  Preferred
Shares,  each series will rank on a parity as to dividends and  distributions in
the event of a  liquidation  with each other series of Preferred  Shares and, in
all cases, will be senior to the Common Shares.

     Dividend  Rights.  Holders  of  Preferred  Shares  of each  series  will be
entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors,  out of
assets of the Company legally available  therefor,  cash dividends at such rates
and on such dates as are set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such
series of Preferred  Shares.  Such rate may be fixed or variable or both and may
be cumulative, noncumulative or partially cumulative.

     If the  applicable  Prospectus  Supplement  so  provides,  as  long  as any
Preferred Shares are  outstanding,  no dividends will be declared or paid or any
distributions  be made on the Common  Shares,  other than a dividend  payable in
Common Shares,  unless the accrued  dividends on each series of Preferred Shares
have been fully paid or declared and set apart for payment and the Company shall
have set apart all  amounts,  if any  required  to be set apart for all  sinking
funds, if any, for each series of Preferred Shares.

     If the applicable Prospectus Supplement so provides, when dividends are not
paid in full  upon any  series  of  Preferred  Shares  and any  other  series of
Preferred  Shares,  ranking  on a parity as to  dividends  with  such  series of
Preferred  Shares,  all dividends  declared upon such series of Preferred Shares
and any other  series of  Preferred  Shares  ranking on a parity as to dividends
will be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends  declared per share on
such series of Preferred  Shares and such other series will in all cases bear to
each other the same ratio that  accrued  dividends  per share on such  series of
Preferred Shares and such other series bear to each other.

     Each series of Preferred  Shares will be entitled to dividends as described
in the Prospectus  Supplement  relating to such series,  which may be based upon
one or more methods of  determination.  Different series of Preferred Shares may
be entitled to  dividends at different  dividend  rates or based upon  different
methods  of  determination.  Except as  provided  in the  applicable  Prospectus
Supplement, no series of Preferred Shares will be entitled to participate in the
earnings or assets of the Company.

     Rights  Upon  Liquidation.  In the event of any  voluntary  or  involuntary
liquidation,  dissolution  or winding  up of the  Company,  the  holders of each
series of Preferred  Shares will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the
Company  available  for  distribution  to  shareholders  the  amount  stated  or
determined


                                       17

<PAGE>



on the basis set forth in the  Prospectus  Supplement  relating to such  series,
which may include accrued dividends, if such liquidation, dissolution or winding
up is involuntary or may equal the current redemption price per share (otherwise
than for the sinking fund, if any,  provided for such series)  provided for such
series set forth in such Prospectus Supplement, if such liquidation, dissolution
or winding up is voluntary,  and on such  preferential  basis as is set forth in
such Prospectus Supplement.  If, upon any voluntary or involuntary  liquidation,
dissolution  or winding up of the Company,  the amounts  payable with respect to
Preferred  Shares of any  series  and any other  shares of stock of the  Company
ranking as to any such  distribution  on a parity with such series of  Preferred
Shares are not paid in full, the holders of Preferred  Shares of such series and
of such other shares will share  ratably in any such  distribution  of assets of
the Company in proportion to the full respective  preferential  amounts to which
they are  entitled  or on such  other  basis as is set  forth in the  applicable
Prospectus  Supplement.  The  rights,  if any,  of the  holders of any series of
Preferred Shares to participate in the assets of the Company remaining after the
holders of other  series of  Preferred  Shares  have been paid their  respective
specified liquidation  preferences upon any liquidation,  dissolution or winding
up of the Company  will be described in the  Prospectus  Supplement  relating to
such series.


     Redemption. A series of Preferred Shares may be redeemable,  in whole or in
part, at the option of the Company,  and may be subject to mandatory  redemption
pursuant  to a  sinking  fund,  in each  case  upon  terms,  at the  times,  the
redemption prices and for the types of consideration set forth in the Prospectus
Supplement  relating to such series.  The  Prospectus  Supplement  relating to a
series of  Preferred  Shares  which is subject  to  mandatory  redemption  shall
specify  the  number of shares of such  series  that  shall be  redeemed  by the
Company in each year  commencing  after a date to be specified,  at a redemption
price per share to be  specified,  together  with an amount equal to any accrued
and unpaid dividends thereon to the date of redemption.


     If,  after  giving  notice  of  redemption  to the  holders  of a series of
Preferred Shares the Company deposits with a designated bank funds sufficient to
redeem  such  Preferred  Shares,  then from and after such  deposit,  all shares
called for redemption will no longer be outstanding for any purpose,  other than
the right to receive the redemption price and the right, if any, to convert such
shares into other classes of capital stock of the Company.  The redemption price
will be stated in the Prospectus  Supplement  relating to a particular series of
Preferred Shares.


     Except as indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement,  the Preferred
Shares  will not be subject  to any  mandatory  redemption  at the option of the
holder.


     Sinking Fund. The Prospectus  Supplement for any series of Preferred Shares
will state the terms,  if any, of a sinking fund for the purchase or  redemption
of that series.


     Conversion  Rights.  The Prospectus  Supplement for any series of Preferred
Shares  will  state  the  terms,  if any,  on which  shares of that  series  are
convertible  into  Common  Shares or another  series of  Preferred  Shares.  The
Preferred Shares will have no preemptive rights.


     Voting Rights. Except as indicated in the Prospectus Supplement relating to
a particular  series of  Preferred  Shares,  or except as expressly  required by
Virginia law, a holder of Preferred Shares will not be entitled to vote.  Except
as indicated in the  Prospectus  Supplement  relating to a particular  series of
Preferred  Shares,  in the event the Company issues full shares of any series of
Preferred  Shares,  each such share will be  entitled  to one vote on matters on
which holders of such series of Preferred Shares are entitled to vote.


     Under  Virginia law, the  affirmative  vote of the holders of a majority of
the outstanding  shares of all series of Preferred Shares,  voting as a separate
voting  group,  will  be  required  for any  amendment  to the  Articles  if the
amendment would:


       (1) Increase or decrease the  aggregate  number of  authorized  Preferred
   Shares, provided that the vote of the class as a separate voting group is not
   required to decrease the number of authorized Preferred Shares, but not below
   the number of Preferred  Shares then  outstanding and required to be reserved
   for issuance;


                                       18

<PAGE>


       (2)  Effect  an  exchange  or  reclassification  of  all or  part  of the
   Preferred Shares into shares of another class;

       (3)  Effect an  exchange  or  reclassification,  or  create  the right of
   exchange,  of all or part of the  shares  of  another  class  into  Preferred
   Shares;

       (4) Change the designation, rights, preferences, or limitations of all or
   part of the Preferred Shares,  but the Preferred Shares shall not be entitled
   to vote as a separate  voting group on an amendment  increasing the number of
   authorized  shares of a  subordinate  class solely  because both such classes
   vote on some or all matters as a single voting group;

       (5) Change the  Preferred  Shares  into a different  number of  Preferred
   Shares;

       (6) Create a new class of shares,  or change a class with subordinate and
   inferior  rights into a class of shares,  having rights or  preferences  with
   respect to  distributions  or to  dissolution  that are prior,  superior,  or
   substantially  equal  to  the  Preferred  Shares,  or  increase  the  rights,
   preferences,  or number of  authorized  shares of any class having  rights or
   preferences  with respect to  distributions or to dissolution that are prior,
   superior, or substantially equal to the Preferred Shares;

       (7) Divide the shares into a series, designate the series, and determine,
   or,  unless  authority  was  conferred  at the time the  class  was  created,
   authorize the Board of Directors to determine,  variations in the rights,  or
   preferences and limitations among the shares of the respective series; or

       (8) Cancel or otherwise  affect rights to distributions or dividends that
   have  accumulated  but not yet been  declared on all or part of the Preferred
   Shares.

     If a proposed amendment would affect a series of Preferred Shares in one or
more of the ways described above, the shares of that series are entitled to vote
as a separate voting group on the proposed  amendment.  If a proposed  amendment
that entitled two or more series of Preferred  Shares to vote as separate voting
groups under this section would affect those two or more series in the same or a
substantially  similar way, the shares of all the series so affected  would vote
together as a single voting group on the proposed  amendment.  Preferred  Shares
that are  convertible  into  shares of  another  class or series do not have any
right,  prior to conversion,  to vote on any matter because it affects the class
or series into which such shares are convertible.

     Transfer Agent and Registrar.  The transfer  agent,  registrar and dividend
disbursement  agent for a series of  Preferred  Shares  will be  selected by the
Company and be identified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. The registrar
for Preferred  Shares will send notices to shareholders of any meetings at which
holders of Preferred Shares have the right to vote on any matter.



                   CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

     The following  summary of certain material United States federal income tax
considerations is based upon current law which is subject to change, that may be
retroactively  applied and alter significantly the tax considerations  described
herein.  The United  Stated  federal  income tax  considerations  applicable  to
ownership of the Company's  Debt  Securities  will be discussed in an applicable
Prospectus Supplement. The following discussion is for general information only,
is not  exhaustive  of all  possible  tax  considerations  and  does  not give a
detailed discussion of any state, local or foreign tax considerations.  Nor does
it discuss all of the aspects of federal income taxation that may be relevant to
a prospective shareholder in light of his or her particular  circumstances or to
certain  types  of  shareholders  (including  insurance  companies,   tax-exempt
entities,  financial institutions or broker-dealers,  foreign corporations,  and
persons who are not citizens or residents of the United  States) who are subject
to special treatment under the federal income tax laws.

     The  discussion  set forth below  assumes the Company  qualifies  as a REIT
under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). If the Company
fails to qualify as a REIT for any taxable year, and certain  relief  provisions
do not apply, it will be subject to federal income tax (including any


                                       19

<PAGE>


applicable  alternative  minimum  tax) at regular  corporate  rates and will not
receive  deductions  for  distributions  paid to  shareholders.  As a result the
amount of after-tax  earnings  available for distribution to shareholders  would
decrease substantially.

     EACH  PROSPECTIVE  PURCHASER OF SHARES OF THE COMPANY IS ADVISED TO CONSULT
WITH HIS OR HER OWN TAX ADVISOR  REGARDING THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES TO SUCH
PURCHASER  OF THE  PURCHASE,  OWNERSHIP,  AND  SALE OF  SHARES  OF THE  COMPANY,
INCLUDING THE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN, AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH
PURCHASE,  OWNERSHIP  AND  SALE,  AND  WITH  RESPECT  TO  POTENTIAL  CHANGES  IN
APPLICABLE TAX LAWS.


GENERAL

     The Company has elected to be treated for federal  income tax purposes as a
REIT and  intends to conduct its  operations  in a manner that will permit it to
continue  so to  qualify.  While the  Board of  Directors  intends  to cause the
Company  to  operate  in a manner  that will  enable it to comply  with the REIT
requirements,  there can be no certainty  that such  intention will be realized.
Moreover,  relevant law may change so as to make  compliance with one or more of
the REIT  requirements  difficult or  impracticable.  Failure to meet any of the
REIT  requirements  with  respect to a  particular  taxable year could result in
termination  of the Company's  election to be a REIT,  effective for the year of
such failure and at least the four succeeding taxable years.

     The  continued  qualification  of the  Company as a REIT will depend on its
continuing to meet various  requirements  concerning,  among other  things,  its
organization, the ownership of its shares, the nature of its assets, the sources
of its income and the amount of its distributions to shareholders.  No assurance
can be given that the actual results of the Company's  operation for any taxable
year will satisfy the REIT  requirements.  As long as the Company qualifies as a
REIT for  federal  income  tax  purposes,  it  generally  will not be subject to
federal income tax on any taxable  income or gain that is distributed  currently
to shareholders. However, any undistributed taxable income or gain will be taxed
to  the  Company  at  regular  corporate  rates.  In  addition,   under  certain
circumstances, the Company may be subject to additional taxes.


FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION OF U.S. SHAREHOLDERS

     While the Company qualifies for taxation as a REIT,  distributions  made to
the Company's shareholders from current or accumulated earnings and profits (and
not  designated  as  capital  gain   dividends)   will  be  includible  by  U.S.
Shareholders  as  ordinary  income  for  federal  income tax  purposes.  A "U.S.
Shareholder"  means a holder of Common  Shares that (for United  States  federal
income tax purposes) is (i) a citizen or resident of the United  States,  (ii) a
corporation,  partnership  or other entity  created or organized in or under the
laws of the United States or of any political  subdivision  thereof, or (iii) an
estate or trust,  the income of which is subject to United States federal income
taxation  regardless of its source (except,  with respect to the tax year of any
trust that begins  after  December 31,  1996,  a trust whose  administration  is
subject to the primary supervision of a United States court and which has one or
more United States  fiduciaries  who have  authority to control all  substantial
decisions of the trust).  None of these  distributions  will be eligible for the
dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders.  Distributions that are
designated as capital gain  dividends  will be taxed as long-term  capital gains
(to the extent they do not exceed the Company's  actual net capital gain for the
taxable year) without  regard to the period for which the  shareholder  has held
his or her  shares  in the  Company.  Corporate  shareholders,  however,  may be
required  to treat up to 20% of  certain  capital  gain  dividends  as  ordinary
income.

     Distributions  in excess of current and  accumulated  earnings  and profits
will not be taxable to a U.S.  Shareholder to the extent that they do not exceed
the  adjusted  basis of the  shareholder's  shares.  U.S.  Shareholders  will be
required  to  reduce  the tax  basis  of  their  shares  by the  amount  of such
distributions  until  such  basis has been  reduced  to zero,  after  which such
distributions  will be taxable as capital gain (ordinary income in the case of a
shareholder who holds its shares as a dealer).  The tax basis as so reduced will
be used in computing the capital gain or loss, if any, realized upon sale of the
shares.  Any loss upon a sale or  exchange of shares by a U.S.  Shareholder  who
held such shares for six months or less (after  applying  certain holding period
rules) generally will be treated as a long-term  capital loss to the extent that
such shareholder  previously received capital gain distributions with respect to
such shares.


                                       20

<PAGE>


All or a portion of any loss  realized upon a taxable  disposition  of shares of
the  Company may be  disallowed  if other  shares of the  Company are  purchased
(under a dividend reinvestment plan or otherwise) within 30 days before or after
the disposition.

     Shareholders may not include in their individual federal income tax returns
any net  operating  losses or capital  losses of the Company.  In addition,  any
distribution  declared by the Company in October,  November,  or December of any
year and  payable to a  shareholder  of record on a  specified  date in any such
month  shall  be  treated  as  both  paid by the  Company  and  received  by the
shareholder  on  December 31 of such year,  provided  that the  distribution  is
actually paid by the Company no later than January 31 of the following year. The
Company may be required to withhold a portion of capital gain  distributions  to
any shareholders who fail to certify their non-foreign status to the Company.


BACKUP WITHHOLDING

     The Company will report to its U.S.  Shareholders  and the Internal Revenue
Service  the amount of  distributions  paid during  each  calendar  year and the
amount  of  tax  withheld,  if  any.  Under  the  backup  withholding  rules,  a
shareholder may be subject to backup withholding at the rate of 31% with respect
to  distributions  paid unless such holder (i) is a corporation  or comes within
certain other exempt  categories and, when required,  demonstrates  this fact or
(ii) has provided a correct taxpayer  identification number,  certifies as to no
loss  of  exemption  from  backup  withholding,   and  otherwise  complies  with
applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. A shareholder that does
not provide the Company with a correct taxpayer  identification  number may also
be subject to penalties imposed by the Internal Revenue Service. Any amount paid
as backup  withholding will be creditable  against the shareholder's  income tax
liability.


STATE AND LOCAL TAXES

     Even if the Company  qualifies on a continuing  basis as a REIT for federal
income tax purposes,  the Company and its shareholders may be subject to certain
state and local taxes. This Prospectus does not purport to describe any state or
local tax  consequences  of an  investment  in the Company.  State and local tax
treatment of the Company and the shareholders may differ  substantially from the
federal  income tax  treatment  described in this  summary.  CONSEQUENTLY,  EACH
PROSPECTIVE  SHAREHOLDER  SHOULD  CONSULT  WITH HIS OR ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR  WITH
REGARD TO THE STATE AND LOCAL TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMPANY.

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     The  Company  may  offer  and  sell  Offered   Securities   to  or  through
underwriters or may offer and sell Offered  Securities to investors  directly or
through  designated  agents. Any such underwriter or agent involved in the offer
and sale of the Offered  Securities  will be named in the applicable  Prospectus
Supplement.

     Underwriters may offer and sell the Offered  Securities at a fixed price or
prices,  which may be changed,  or from time to time at market prices prevailing
at the time of sale, at prices  related to such  prevailing  market prices or at
negotiated  prices.  The  Company  also  may,  from  time  to  time,   authorize
underwriters  acting as agents to offer and sell the Offered Securities upon the
terms and conditions set forth in any Prospectus Supplement.  In connection with
the sale of  Offered  Securities,  underwriters  may be deemed to have  received
compensation  from  the  Company  in  the  form  of  underwriting  discounts  or
commissions  and  may  also  receive  commissions  from  purchasers  of  Offered
Securities  for  whom  they may act as  agent.  Underwriters  may  sell  Offered
Securities to or through dealers,  and such dealers may receive  compensation in
the form of discounts,  concessions  or  commissions  (which may be changed from
time to time) from the underwriters and/or from the purchasers for whom they may
act as agent.

     Any underwriting compensation paid by the Company to underwriters or agents
in  connection  with the  offering  of  Offered  Securities  and any  discounts,
concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers will
be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.  Underwriters, dealers and
agents participating in the distribution of the Offered Securities may be deemed
to be underwriters,  and any discounts and commissions  received by them and any
profit realized by them on


                                       21

<PAGE>


resale of the Offered Securities may be deemed to be underwriting  discounts and
commissions  under the Securities Act.  Underwriters,  dealers and agents may be
entitled,  under agreements  entered into with the Company,  to  indemnification
against and contribution toward certain civil liabilities, including liabilities
under the Securities Act.

     If so indicated in the applicable Prospectus  Supplement,  the Company will
authorize  dealers  acting as the Company's  agents to solicit offers by certain
institutions  to  purchase  Offered  Securities  from the  Company at the public
offering  price set forth in such  Prospectus  Supplement  pursuant  to  Delayed
Delivery Contracts  ("Contracts") providing for payment and delivery on the date
or dates stated in such  Prospectus  Supplement.  Each  Contract  will be for an
amount not less  than,  and the  principal  amount of  Offered  Securities  sold
pursuant to Contracts  shall not be less nor more than, the  respective  amounts
stated in such Prospectus  Supplement.  Institutions with which Contracts,  when
authorized,  may  be  made  include  commercial  and  savings  banks,  insurance
companies,  pension  funds,  investment  companies,  educational  and charitable
institutions  and other  institutions,  but will in all cases be  subject to the
approval of the Company.  Contracts will not be subject to any conditions except
(i) the  purchase by an  institution  of the Offered  Securities  covered by its
Contract  shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited  under the laws of any
jurisdiction in the United States to which such  institution is subject and (ii)
the Company shall have sold to such  underwriters  the total principal amount of
the Offered Securities less the principal amount thereof covered by Contracts. A
commission  indicated in the  Prospectus  Supplement  will be paid to agents and
underwriters  soliciting  purchases of Offered Securities  pursuant to Contracts
accepted by the Company. Agents and underwriters shall have no responsibility in
respect of the delivery or performance of Contracts.

     Certain of the  underwriters  and their  affiliates  may be  customers  of,
engage in transactions with and perform services for the Company in the ordinary
course of business.



                                 LEGAL OPINIONS


     The validity of the Offered  Securities will be passed upon for the Company
by McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe LLP, Richmond, Virginia.




                                    EXPERTS

     The  financial   statements  of  Cornerstone   Realty  Income  Trust,  Inc.
incorporated  by reference in  Cornerstone  Realty Income  Trust,  Inc.'s Annual
Report  (Form  10-K) for the year  ended  December  31,  1996,  and the  related
financial  statement  schedule  included  therein,  have been audited by Ernst &
Young LLP, independent  auditors, as set forth in their reports thereon included
and incorporated by reference therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such
financial  statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such
reports  given upon the  authority  of such firm as experts  in  accounting  and
auditing.

     The Statement of Income and Direct  Operating  Expenses  Exclusive of Items
not  Comparable to the Proposed  Future  Operations  of the Property  Greenbrier
Apartments  for the Twelve Month Period Ended  September 30, 1996, the Statement
of Income and Direct Operating Expenses Exclusive of Items not Comparable to the
Proposed Future Operations of the Property  Deerfield  Apartments for the Twelve
Months Ended  October 31,  1996,  the  Statement of Income and Direct  Operating
Expenses  Exclusive of Items not Comparable to the Proposed Future Operations of
the Property Franklin Towers Apartments for the Twelve Months Ended December 31,
1996, the Statement of Income and Direct Operating  Expenses  Exclusive of Items
not  Comparable  to the Proposed  Future  Operations  of the Property  Westchase
Apartments  for the Twelve  Months Ended  December 31,  1996,  the  Statement of
Income and Direct  Operating  Expenses  Exclusive of Items not Comparable to the
Proposed Future Operations of the Property Paces Arbor Apartments for the Twelve
Month  Period  Ended  February  28,  1997,  the  Statement  of Income and Direct
Operating  Expenses  Exclusive of Items not  Comparable  to the Proposed  Future
Operations of the Property  Paces Forest  Apartments for the Twelve Month Period
Ended February 28, 1997, the Statement of Income and Direct  Operating  Expenses
Exclusive of Items


                                       22

<PAGE>



not Comparable to the Proposed  Future  Operations of the Property  Carlyle Club
Apartments  for the Twelve Month Period Ended March 31, 1997,  the  Statement of
Income and Direct  Operating  Expenses  Exclusive of Items not Comparable to the
Proposed Future  Operations of the Property Ashley Run Apartments for the Twelve
Month Period Ended March 31, 1997, the Statement of Income and Direct  Operating
Expenses  Exclusive of Items not Comparable to the Proposed Future Operations of
the  Property  Summit  Charleston  Apartments  for the Twelve Month Period Ended
April 30, 1997, the Statement of Income and Direct Operating  Expenses Exclusive
of Items not  Comparable  to the  Proposed  Future  Operations  of the  Property
Dunwoody Springs Apartments For the Twelve Month Period Ended June 30, 1997, the
Statement  of  Income  and  Direct  Operating  Expenses  Exclusive  of Items not
Comparable to the Proposed  Future  Operations of the Property  Italian  Village
Apartments  and Villa Marina  Apartments  for the Twelve Month Period Ended July
31, 1997,  the Statement of Income and Direct  Operating  Expenses  Exclusive of
Items not Comparable to the Proposed Future  Operations of the Property  Clarion
Crossing  Apartments  for the Twelve Month  Period  Ended  August 31, 1997,  the
Statement  of  Income  and  Direct  Operating  Expenses  Exclusive  of Items not
Comparable to the Proposed  Future  Operations of the Property  Barrington  Parc
Apartments  for the Twelve Month Period Ended  September 30, 1997, the Statement
of Income and Direct Operating Expenses Exclusive of Items not Comparable to the
Proposed  Future  Operations of the Property  Sterling Arbor  Apartments for the
Twelve Months Ended  September 30, 1997,  and the Statement of Income and Direct
Operating  Expenses  Exclusive of Items not  Comparable  to the Proposed  Future
Operations of the Property Sterling Place Apartments for the Twelve Months Ended
September 30, 1997,  incorporated by reference  herein,  have been  incorporated
herein in reliance on the reports of L.P.  Martin & Company,  P.C.,  independent
certified public  accountants,  also incorporated by reference herein,  and upon
the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

     Any  financial  statements  and  schedules  hereafter  filed by the Company
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and  incorporated by
reference  in the  Prospectus  that have been  examined and are the subject of a
report by independent accountants will be so incorporated herein by reference in
reliance upon such reports given and upon the authority of such firms as experts
in  accounting  and  auditing to the extent  covered by consents  filed with the
Commission. 


                                       23

<PAGE>



======================================== =======================================

     No person  has been  authorized  to
give  any  information  or to  make  any
representations in connection  with  the
offering of securities made hereby other
than those  contained in this Prospectus              2,608,696 Shares       
Supplement    or    the     accompanying
Prospectus  and, if given or made,  such
other  information  or   representations
must not be relied  upon as having  been
authorized   by  the   Company   or  the
Underwriter.  Neither  the  delivery  of
this   Prospectus   Supplement   or  the             Cornerstone Realty  
accompanying  Prospectus  nor  any  sale             Income Trust, Inc. 
made   hereunder   shall,    under   any              
circumstances,  create  any  implication
that  there  has been no  change  in the
affairs  of the  Company  since the date
hereof or that the information contained               Common Shares   
herein  is   correct   as  of  any  time
subsequent to its date.  This Prospectus
Supplement    and    the    accompanying
Prospectus do not constitute an offer to
sell or a  solicitation  of an  offer to
buy  any   securities   other  than  the
registered   securities  to  which  they
relate.  The  Prospectus  Supplement and
the   accompanying   Prospectus  do  not
constitute   an   offer  to  sell  or  a
solicitation  of an  offer  to buy  such
securities in any circumstances in which
such offer or solicitation is unlawful.

            -----------------                        ------------------
            TABLE OF CONTENTS                       PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
                                                      ------------------

          PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

                                    Page

The Company........................  S-2
Risk Factors.......................  S-2
Use of Proceeds....................  S-4
Certain Federal Income 
  Tax Considerations...............  S-4          PaineWebber Incorporated  
Underwriting.......................  S-5
Legal Matters......................  S-6

               PROSPECTUS

Available Information..............    2
Incorporation of Certain 
  Information by Reference.........    2
The Company........................    3
Use of Proceeds....................    4
Certain Ratios.....................    4
Description of Debt Securities.....    4
Description of Capital Shares......   15
Certain Federal Income
  Tax Considerations ..............   19
Plan of Distribution...............   21
Legal Opinions.....................   22
Experts............................   22

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