Related Party Transactions and Arrangements (Related Party Fees and Expenses) (Detail) (Affiliated Entity [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Expenses from Transactions with Related Party	$ 43,809,000	$ 53,221,000	$ 267,471,000	$ 328,054,000
Financing Fees And Reimbursements [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Expenses from Transactions with Related Party	0	6,296,000	0	13,796,000
Offering Related Costs [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Expenses from Transactions with Related Party	2,000,000	22,669,000	2,150,000	158,657,000
Acquisition Related Expenses [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Expenses from Transactions with Related Party	113,000	19,867,000	1,652,000	26,830,000
Merger And Other Non-Routine Transactions [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Expenses from Transactions with Related Party	40,000	255,000	137,778,000	106,935,000
Management Fees To Affiliates [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Expenses from Transactions with Related Party	0	0	13,888,000	12,493,000
General and Administrative Expense [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Expenses from Transactions with Related Party	437,000	4,134,000	16,029,000	9,343,000
Indirect Affiliate Expenses [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Expenses from Transactions with Related Party	3,997,000	0	4,495,000	0
Offering Related Revenues [Member] | Cole Capital [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from related parties	9,969,000	0	52,422,000	0
Operating Revenues [Member] | Cole Capital [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from related parties	$ 27,253,000	$ 0	$ 39,057,000	$ 0