Exhibit 99.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350 AS ADOPTED

PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE

SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of Cornerstone Realty Income Trust, Inc. (the “company”) on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2002 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), each of the undersigned hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that, to the best of his knowledge: (1) the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m(a) or 78o(d)); and (2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the company as of December 31, 2002 and for the period then ended.

/s/    GLADE M. KNIGHT        

Glade M. Knight

Chief Executive Officer

/s/    STANLEY J. OLANDER, JR.        

Stanley J. Olander, Jr.

Chief Financial Officer

March 27, 2003