Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Revenues:
Rental income from operating leases	$ 311,624,000		$ 240,816,000		$ 204,627,000
Earned income from direct financing leases	2,437,000		2,709,000		2,915,000
Percentage rent	1,165,000		1,093,000		919,000
Real estate expense reimbursement from tenants	11,443,000		9,914,000		7,181,000
Interest and other income from real estate transactions	2,410,000		2,302,000		2,982,000
Interest income on commercial mortgage residual interests	2,673,000		3,105,000		3,460,000
Total revenues	331,752,000		259,939,000		222,084,000
Retail operations:
Revenues	19,008,000		45,139,000		32,958,000
Operating expenses	(18,543,000)		(43,096,000)		(31,647,000)
Net	465,000		2,043,000		1,311,000
Operating expenses:
General and administrative	32,182,000		28,814,000		22,764,000
Real estate	17,069,000		16,832,000		13,177,000
Depreciation and amortization	74,140,000		56,926,000		46,887,000
Impairment – commercial mortgage residual interests valuation	2,812,000		1,024,000		3,995,000
Impairment losses and other charges, net of recoveries	8,411,000		(1,431,000)		7,458,000
Total operating expenses	134,614,000		102,165,000		94,281,000
Earnings from operations	197,603,000		159,817,000		129,114,000
Other expenses (revenues):
Interest and other income	(2,232,000)		(1,511,000)		(1,513,000)
Interest expense	82,502,000		74,845,000		65,179,000
Total other expenses (revenues)	80,270,000		73,334,000		63,666,000
Earnings from continuing operations before gain on disposition of real estate, income tax benefit (expense) and equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate	117,333,000		86,483,000		65,448,000
Gain on disposition of real estate	0		297,000		641,000
Income tax benefit (expense)	7,086,000		(779,000)		(475,000)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate	4,074,000		474,000		428,000
Earnings from continuing operations	128,493,000		86,475,000		66,042,000
Earnings from discontinued operations, net of income tax expense	13,444,000		5,941,000		7,311,000
Earnings including noncontrolling interests	141,937,000		92,416,000		73,353,000
Loss (earnings) attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Continuing operations	129,000		(11,000)		(367,000)
Discontinued operations	(51,000)		(80,000)		11,000
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest	78,000		(91,000)		(356,000)
Net earnings attributable to NNN	142,015,000		92,325,000		72,997,000
Preferred stock dividends			(6,785,000)		(6,785,000)
Excess of redemption value over carrying value of preferred shares redeemed	(3,098,000)		0		0
Net earnings attributable to common stockholders	121,489,000		85,540,000		66,212,000
Basic:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.00		$ 0.90		$ 0.71
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.13		$ 0.06		$ 0.09
Net earnings (in dollars per share)	$ 1.13		$ 0.96		$ 0.80
Diluted:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.99		$ 0.89		$ 0.71
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.12		$ 0.07		$ 0.09
Net earnings (in dollars per share)	$ 1.11		$ 0.96		$ 0.80
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	106,965,156		88,100,076		82,715,645
Diluted (in shares)	109,117,515		88,837,057		82,849,362
Other comprehensive income:
Net earnings attributable to NNN	142,015,000		92,325,000		72,997,000
Amortization of interest rate hedges	231,000		9,000		(165,000)
Fair value treasury locks	0		(5,218,000)		0
Unrealized gain (loss) - commercial mortgage residual interests	1,132,000		(246,000)		1,272,000
Stock value adjustments	85,000		(36,000)		17,000
Noncontrolling interests	0		0		26,000
Comprehensive income attributable to NNN	143,463,000		86,834,000		74,147,000
Series C Depositary Share [Member]
Loss (earnings) attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Preferred stock dividends	(1,979,000)	[1]	(6,785,000)	[1]	(6,785,000)	[1]
Series D Depositary Share [Member]
Loss (earnings) attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Preferred stock dividends	$ (15,449,000)	[2]	$ 0	[2]	$ 0	[2]

[1] The Series C Preferred Stock was redeemed in March 2012. The dividends paid during the quarter ended March 31, 2012 include accumulated and unpaid dividends through the redemption date.

[2] The Series D Preferred Stock dividends paid during the quarter ended June 30, 2012 include accumulated and unpaid dividends from the issuance date through the declaration date. The Series D Preferred Stock has no maturity date and will remain outstanding unless redeemed.