Related Party Transactions and Arrangements (Related Party Fees and Expenses) (Details) (Affiliated Entity [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party expenses	$ 203,558,000	$ 0	$ 0
Financing Fees And Reimbursements [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party expenses	0	14,277,000	3,350,000
Offering Related Costs [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party expenses	2,150,000	161,796,000	211,391,000
Acquisition Related Expenses [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party expenses	1,652,000	37,564,000	28,656,000
Merger And Other Non-Routine Transactions [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party expenses	137,778,000	156,146,000	0
Management Fees To Affiliates [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party expenses	13,888,000	17,462,000	212,000
General and Administrative Expense [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party expenses	16,089,000	103,206,000	826,000
Indirect Affiliate Expenses [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party expenses	10,975,000	68,000	0
Total Expenses and Capitalized Costs [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party expenses	182,532,000	490,519,000	244,435,000
Cole Capital Offering Related Revenue [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party expenses	87,109,000	0	0
Cole Capital Operating Revenue [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party expenses	$ 116,449,000	$ 0	$ 0