<?xml version="1.0"?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="../4_X02.xsl"?><ownershipDocument>    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType>    <periodOfReport>2009-05-20</periodOfReport>    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>    <issuer>        <issuerCik>0001121783</issuerCik>        <issuerName>AMERICAN SPECTRUM REALTY INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>AQQ</issuerTradingSymbol>    </issuer>    <reportingOwner>        <reportingOwnerId>            <rptOwnerCik>0001167472</rptOwnerCik>            <rptOwnerName>GALARDI JOHN N</rptOwnerName>        </reportingOwnerId>        <reportingOwnerAddress>            <rptOwnerStreet1>7700 IRVINE CENTER</rptOwnerStreet1>            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 550</rptOwnerStreet2>            <rptOwnerCity>IRVINE</rptOwnerCity>            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>            <rptOwnerZipCode>92618</rptOwnerZipCode>            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>        </reportingOwnerAddress>        <reportingOwnerRelationship>            <isDirector>1</isDirector>            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>            <isOther>0</isOther>            <officerTitle></officerTitle>            <otherText></otherText>        </reportingOwnerRelationship>    </reportingOwner>    <nonDerivativeTable>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2009-05-20</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>158</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>20.99</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>A</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>93665</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2009-05-21</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>158</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>20.99</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>A</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>93823</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeHolding>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>203417</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>I</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>                <natureOfOwnership>                    <value>Family Trusts</value>                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>                </natureOfOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeHolding>        <nonDerivativeHolding>            <securityTitle>                <value>Preferred Stock, Series A</value>            </securityTitle>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>55172</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeHolding>        <nonDerivativeHolding>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>775</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeHolding>        <nonDerivativeHolding>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>129618</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>I</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>                <natureOfOwnership>                    <value>By CGS Real Estate Company, Inc.</value>                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>                </natureOfOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeHolding>        <nonDerivativeHolding>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>12578</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>I</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>                <natureOfOwnership>                    <value>By Meadow Wood Village, Ltd.</value>                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>                </natureOfOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeHolding>        <nonDerivativeHolding>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>24573</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>I</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>                <natureOfOwnership>                    <value>By No.-So., Inc.</value>                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>                </natureOfOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeHolding>    </nonDerivativeTable>    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>    <footnotes>        <footnote id="F1">The shares reported as owned exceed the undersigned's pecuniary interest in the shares held by these entities.</footnote>        <footnote id="F2">The shares reported are owned indirectly by Family Trusts in which Mr. Galardi is trustee.</footnote>        <footnote id="F3">Represents shares owned jointly by John N. Galardi, William J. Carden and Timothy R. Brown as Tenants in Common.</footnote>    </footnotes>    <ownerSignature>        <signatureName>John N. Galardi</signatureName>        <signatureDate>2009-05-22</signatureDate>    </ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>