Related Party Transactions and Arrangements (Related Party Fees and Expenses) (Detail) (Affiliated Entity [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Expenses from Transactions with Related Party	$ 65,452,000	$ 20,032,000	$ 332,923,000	$ 348,086,000
Financing Fees And Reimbursements [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Expenses from Transactions with Related Party	0	0	0	13,796,000
Offering Related Costs [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Expenses from Transactions with Related Party	0	666,000	2,150,000	159,323,000
Acquisition Related Expenses [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Expenses from Transactions with Related Party	0	10,064,000	1,652,000	36,894,000
Merger And Other Non-Routine Transactions [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Expenses from Transactions with Related Party	0	2,298,000	137,778,000	109,233,000
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	60,000	7,004,000	16,089,000	16,347,000
Indirect Affiliate Expenses [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Expenses from Transactions with Related Party	5,595,000	0	10,090,000	0
Offering Related Revenues [Member] | Cole Capital [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from Related Parties	21,535,000	0	73,957,000	0
Operating Revenues [Member] | Cole Capital [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from Related Parties	$ 38,262,000	$ 0	$ 77,319,000	$ 0