Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Earnings including noncontrolling interests	$ 29,824	$ 20,853
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Performance incentive plan expense	2,257	1,739
Depreciation and amortization	18,263	13,670
Impairment losses and other charges	35	0
Impairment - commercial mortgage residual interests valuation	0	129
Amortization of notes payable discount	1,181	1,654
Amortization of deferred interest rate hedges	56	(43)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate	(150)	(109)
Distributions received from unconsolidated affiliate	187	149
Gain on disposition of real estate portfolio	(314)	(132)
Gain on note receivable and property foreclosure	(28)	0
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations:
Additions to held for sale real estate	(4,385)	(92)
Proceeds from disposition of held for sale real estate	0	1,058
Decrease in real estate leased to others using the direct financing method	402	413
Increase in work in process	(430)	(322)
Decrease in mortgages, notes and accrued interest receivable	50	209
Decrease in receivables	517	581
Decrease (increase) in commercial mortgage residual interests	283	(556)
Decrease (increase) in accrued rental income	(537)	53
Decrease in other assets	595	502
Increase in accrued interest payable	6,777	11,673
Decrease in other liabilities	(4,101)	(3,132)
Increase in current tax liability	118	569
Net cash provided by operating activities	50,600	48,866
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from the disposition of real estate, Investment Portfolio	5,193	773
Additions to real estate:
Accounted for using the operating method	(191,745)	(57,512)
Accounted for using the direct financing method	0	(1,747)
Increase in mortgages and notes receivable	(3,935)	(1,245)
Principal payments on mortgages and notes receivable	563	1,462
Payment of lease costs	(615)	(138)
Other	(139)	463
Net cash used in investing activities	(190,678)	(57,944)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from line of credit payable	242,400	129,500
Repayment of line of credit payable	(281,800)	(106,300)
Repayment of mortgages payable	(288)	(272)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	37,550	20,025
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock	287,500	0
Redemption of preferred stock	(92,000)	0
Payment of Series C preferred stock dividends	(1,979)	(1,696)
Payment of common stock dividends	(40,432)	(31,678)
Noncontrolling interest distributions	0	(33)
Noncontrolling interest contributions	0	41
Stock issuance costs	(9,922)	0
Net cash provided by financing activities	141,029	9,587
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	951	509
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	2,082	2,048
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	3,033	2,557
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	12,420	5,040
Taxes paid (received)	15	(541)
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Issued 396,577 and 139,351 shares of restricted and unrestricted common stock in 2012 and 2011, respectively, pursuant to NNN's performance incentive plan	8,576	3,407
Issued 4,122 and 2,391 shares of common stock in 2012 and 2011, respectively, to directors pursuant to NNN's performance incentive plan	112	59
Issued 5,317 and 7,115 shares of common stock in 2012 and 2011, respectively, pursuant to NNN's Deferred Director Fee Plan	74	122
Change in other comprehensive income	55	1,661
Change in lease classification (direct financing lease to operating lease)	757	0
Real estate acquired in connection with mortgage receivable in foreclosure	$ 490	$ 0