Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Earnings including noncontrolling interests	$ 33,903	$ 29,824
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Performance incentive plan expense	2,310	2,257
Performance incentive plan payment	(2,139)	0
Depreciation and amortization	23,805	18,263
Impairment losses and other charges	2,851	7
Amortization of notes payable discount	1,356	1,181
Amortization of debt costs	907	0
Amortization of mortgages payable premium	(14)	0
Amortization of deferred interest rate hedges	60	56
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate	0	(150)
Distributions received from unconsolidated affiliate	0	187
Gain on disposition of real estate	(505)	(314)
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations:
Additions to held for sale real estate	(1,029)	(4,385)
Decrease in real estate leased to others using the direct financing method	400	402
Increase in work in process	(340)	(430)
Decrease in mortgages, notes and accrued interest receivable	286	50
Decrease (increase) in receivables	(148)	517
Decrease in commercial mortgage residual interests	246	283
Increase in accrued rental income	(727)	(537)
Decrease in other assets	61	595
Increase in accrued interest payable	10,603	6,777
Decrease in other liabilities	(2,264)	(4,101)
Increase (decrease) in current tax liability	(799)	118
Net cash provided by operating activities	68,823	50,600
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from the disposition of real estate	4,627	5,193
Additions to real estate:
Accounted for using the operating method	(51,431)	(191,745)
Increase in mortgages and notes receivable	(739)	(3,935)
Principal payments on mortgages and notes receivable	1,339	563
Payment of lease costs	(255)	(615)
Other	(93)	(139)
Net cash used in investing activities	(46,552)	(190,678)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from line of credit payable	186,500	242,400
Repayment of line of credit payable	(301,300)	(281,800)
Repayment of mortgages payable	(260)	(288)
Repayment of notes payable - convertible	(20,565)	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	166,067	37,550
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock	0	287,500
Redemption of preferred stock	0	(92,000)
Payment of common stock dividends	(44,321)	(40,432)
Stock issuance costs	(2,264)	(9,922)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(20,905)	141,029
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	1,366	951
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	2,076	2,082
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	3,442	3,033
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	9,297	12,420
Taxes paid	19	15
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Issued 298,896 and 396,577 shares of restricted and unrestricted common stock in 2013 and 2012, respectively, pursuant to NNN’s performance incentive plan	7,904	8,576
Issued 4,292 and 4,122 shares of common stock in 2013 and 2012, respectively, to directors pursuant to NNN’s performance incentive plan	137	112
Issued 3,227 and 5,317 shares of common stock in 2013 and 2012, respectively, pursuant to NNN’s Deferred Director Fee Plan	38	74
Change in other comprehensive income	815	55
Change in lease classification (direct financing lease to operating lease)	0	757
Real estate acquired in connection with mortgage receivable foreclosure	0	490
Series C Depositary Share [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment of Series C and Series D preferred stock dividends	0	(1,979)
Series D Depositary Share [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment of Series C and Series D preferred stock dividends	$ (4,762)	$ 0