Exhibit 99.1

A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO As we continue to face turmoil in the Grubb & Ellis Apartment REIT 3nancial markets and U.S. economy, Grubb & Ellis Apartment REIT wants to ensure that we keep you abreast 2008 of what is happening in the multifamily sector of the commercial real estate market. Furthermore, Grubb & Ellis Apartment REIT is taking action in an e3ort to maximize better operating performance. While underlying fundamentals in the sector are clearly softening, apartment YEAR END INVESTOR UPDATE demand has been resilient which we believe may be due to the more stringent requirements for residential Grubb & Ellis Apartment REIT, Inc. has enjoyed a number of accomplishments since its o3ering mortgages.13Furthermore, according began in the third quarter of 2006. This update will provide you with information regarding the to the National Multifamily Housing activity of the REIT during 2008. Council, the construction pipeline is expected to be signi3cantly reduced during the next 24 to 48 months GRUBB & ELLIS APARTMENT REIT 2008 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: based on large declines in multifamily permits and starts in late 2008.2Upon t_3 aised $66.3 million of equity in 2008. economic recovery in the next several years, the constrained levels of new t_&YQBOEFE_QPSUGPMJP_UP_JODMVEF_B_UPUBM_PG___QSPQFSUJFT_XJUI___ ___VOJUT_WBMVFE_BU_NPSF_UIBO___supply may result in signi3cantly ___NJMMJPO_CBTFE_PO_QVSDIBTF_QSJDF___lower vacancy rates and higher rental growth rates.3 t_“DRVJSFE_GPVS_QSPQFSUJFT_WBMVFE_BU_BQQSPYJNBUFMZ___NJMMJPO_CBTFE_PO_QVSDIBTF_QSJDF_ Apartments continue to have t_“DIJFWFE_BO_BQQSPYJNBUFMZ___QFSDFOU_QPSUGPMJP_PDDVQBODZ_SBUF_EFTQJUF_B_TMPXJOH_NBSLFU___3nancing readily available and remain one of the only sectors to do so.4 We t_&YQBOEFE_QPSUGPMJP_UP_JODMVEF_QSPQFSUJFT_JO_B_UPUBM_PG_FJHIU_NBKPS_NFUSPQPMJUBO_NBSLFUT_UIBU_ believe demographic trends and XF_CFMJFWF_BSF_FYQFSJFODJOH_BCPWF_BWFSBHF_KPC_BOE_QPQVMBUJPO_HSPXUI_ population growth continue to favor long-term ownership of apartments, 2008 ACQUISITIONS and the multifamily sector should be well positioned over the long term. Arboleda Apartments, Cedar Park, TX Grubb & Ellis Apartment REIT has -PDBUFE_JO_UIF_“VTUJO_TVCVSC___FOUT___$FEBS_1BSL _5FYBT _“SCPMFEB_“QBSUN taken action to maximize its operating performance. Its advisor has agreed to JT_B___VOJU_NVMUJGBNJMZ_QSPQFSUZ_DPOTJTUJOH_PG_BQQSPYJNBUFMZ___ ___waive its asset management fee until rentable square feet. Completed in 2007, Arboleda Apartments is currently the quarter following the quarter that ___QFSDFOU_PDDVQJFE___the REIT is able to cover 100 percent of its funds from operations (FFO), Canyon Ridge Apartments, Hermitage, TN excluding non-recurring charges. We thank you for your continued support Located in the Nashville suburb of Hermitage, Tennessee, Canyon Ridge and look forward to working with you “QBSUNFOUT_JT_B___VOJU_NVMUJGBNJMZ_QSPQFSUZ_DPOTJTUJOH_PG_BQQSPYJNBUFMZ___in the future. ___ ___SFOUBCMF_TRVBSF_GFFU___5IJT_QSPQFSUZ_XBT_CVJMU_JO___BOE_JT_DVSSFOUMZ___QFSDFOU_PDDVQJFE_ Creekside Crossing, Lithonia, GA -PDBUFE_JO_UIF_“UMBOUB_TVCVSC_PG_- SPTTJOH_JT_B___JUIPOJB _(FPSHJB _$ Stanley J. Olander, Jr. $MBTT_” ___VOJU_NVMUJGBNJMZ_QSPQFSUZ_XJUI_OJOF_EJoFSFOU_oPPS_QMBOT_DPOTJTUJOH___Chairman, President and CEO PG_BQQSPYJNBUFMZ___ ___SFOUBCMF_TRVBSF_GFFU___5IF_QSPQFSUZ_JT_DVSSFOUMZ___Grubb & Ellis Apartment REIT, Inc. ___QFSDFOU_PDDVQJFE___“Quarterly Statistics Q4 2008” Reis, Inc. www.reis.com. Retrieved on 20 F eb 2008. Kedron Village, Peachtree City, GA Additional calculations by Grubb & Ellis Company. 2i/.)$_. National Located in the Atlanta suburb of Peachtree City, Georgia, Kedron Village is a Multifamily Housing Council. November 2008. www.nmhc.org/content. Retrieved ___VOJU_NVMUJGBNJMZ_QSPQFSUZ_DPNQSJTFE_PG_TJY_UPXOIPVTF_CVJMEJOHT _TFWFO___is available through subscription only. UISFF_TUPSZ_HBSEFO_BQBSUNFOU_CVJMEJOHT _BOE_B_TJOHMF_TUPSZ_MFBTJOH_DFOUFS_XJUI___3 Ibid. 4i/.)$ BQQSPYJNBUFMZ___ ___SFOUBCMF_TRVBSF_GFFU___5IF_QSPQFSUZ_JT_DVSSFOUMZ___Role in Multifamily Finance.” National Mulitfamily Housing Council. 4 February 88 percent occupied. PO___’FCSVBSZ___

2008 YEAR-END INVESTOR UPDATE 2008 ACQUISITION PROPERTY HIGHLIGHT Shares Sold and Creekside Crossing Equity Raised Grubb & Ellis Apartment REIT has sold Located in the Atlanta suburb of Lithonia, Georgia, $SFFLTJEF___$ $ MBTT_” ___VOJU_NVMUJGBNJMZ___SPTTJOH_JT_B_ QSPQFSUZ_DPOTJTUJOH_PG_BQQSPYJNBUFMZ___ ___SFOUBCMF_ At the close of 2008, Grubb & Ellis square feet. Completed in 2003, the property consists Apartment REIT has acquired a PG___UISFF___BOE_GPVS_TUPSZ_CVJMEJOHT_UIBU_PoFS_OJOF___QPSUGPMJP_PG___$ EJoFSFOU_oPPS_QMBOT_SBOHJOH_JO_TJ[F_GSPN_BQQSPYJNBUFMZ_ ___TRVBSF_GPPU_POF_CFESPPN_BOE_POF_CBUI_VOJUT_UP_ _ ___TRVBSF_GPPU_UISFF_CFESPPN_BOE_UXP_CBUI_VOJUT___5IF_ TJUF_BMTP_JODMVEFT_B_UXP_TUPSZ_MFBTJOH_DFOUFS _B_DBS_DBSF___center and 37 storage units. Property amenities include a 3tness center, business center, swimming pool and DPOUSPMMFE_BDDFTT_HBUFT___6OJU_GFBUVSFT_JODMVEF_GVMM_TJ[F___XBTIFS_BOE_ESZFS_DPOOFDUJPOT _LJUDIFO_QBOUSJFT _XBML_JO___based upon the current beliefs and closets and a patio or balcony. factors that may cause the actual results or performance of the company and -PDBUFE_BU___$BWBMJFS_$SPTTJOH ___its a3liates to be materially di3erent$SFFLTJEF_$ from any future results or performance XJUIJO_DMPTF_QSPYJNJUZ_UP_*OUFSTUBUF___BOE_PoFST_FBTZ_ BDDFTT_UP_*OUFSTUBUF___5IF_QSPQFSUZ_QSPWJEFT___this newsletter does not constitute QBSLJOH_TQBDFT_BOE_JT_DVSSFOUMZ___QFSDFOU_PDDVQJFE___an o3er to sell, nor a solicitation of an o3er to buy the securities described herein. Such an o3ering is made only by prospectus. Therefore, this material must be accompanied or preceded by a prospectus. You should carefully prospectus and consult with your advisor before investing. Grubb & Ellis Securities, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, is the dealer manager for the To learn more, visit Grubb & Ellis Apartment REIT o3ering. www.gbe-reits.com/apartment. ___ ___XXX_HCF_SFJUT_DPN_BQBSUNFOU “T_PG_.BSDI___