Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014 Series D Depositary Share	Jun. 30, 2013 Series D Depositary Share	Jun. 30, 2014 Series E Depositary Share	Jun. 30, 2013 Series E Depositary Share
Cash flows from operating activities:
Earnings including noncontrolling interests	$ 89,424	$ 71,509
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	56,019	46,418
Impairment charges	548	4,004
Impairment – commercial mortgage residual interests valuation	235	0
Amortization of notes payable discount	614	2,591
Amortization of debt costs	1,353	1,806
Amortization of mortgages payable premium	(29)	(28)
Amortization of deferred interest rate hedges	351	178
Interest rate hedge payment	(6,312)	(3,141)
Gain on disposition of real estate	(5,020)	(3,174)
Performance incentive plan expense	4,712	4,843
Performance incentive plan payment	(2,808)	(2,139)
Noncontrolling interest distributions	(1,232)	0
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations:
Additions to held for sale real estate	0	(1,029)
Decrease in real estate leased to others using the direct financing method	666	810
Decrease (increase) in mortgages, notes and accrued interest receivable	(231)	217
Decrease (increase) in receivables	1,033	(331)
Decrease (increase) in accrued rental income	(980)	128
Increase in other assets	(249)	(61)
Increase (decrease) in accrued interest payable	1,390	(250)
Decrease in other liabilities	(3,235)	(1,201)
Other	770	40
Net cash provided by operating activities	137,019	121,190
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from the disposition of real estate	29,510	17,088
Additions to real estate:
Accounted for using the operating method	(186,390)	(485,230)
Increase in mortgages and notes receivable	(5,131)	(1,060)
Principal payments on mortgages and notes receivable	2,933	3,160
Other	(1,342)	(852)
Net cash used in investing activities	(160,420)	(466,894)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from line of credit payable	319,000	300,500
Repayment of line of credit payable	(365,400)	(474,700)
Repayment of mortgages payable	(554)	(526)
Proceeds from notes payable	349,293	347,406
Repayment of notes payable	(150,000)	0
Repayment of notes payable – convertible	0	(20,656)
Payment of debt costs	(3,384)	(3,183)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	76,098	258,085
Proceeds from issuance of Series E preferred stock	0	287,500
Payment of Series D and Series E preferred stock dividends			(9,523)	(9,523)	(8,194)	0
Stock issuance costs	(1,104)	(13,416)
Payment of common stock dividends	(98,958)	(90,943)
Net cash provided by financing activities	107,274	580,544
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	83,873	234,840
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	1,485	2,076
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	85,358	236,916
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	39,282	41,770
Taxes paid	101	117
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Issued 371,134 and 298,896 shares of restricted and unrestricted common stock in 2014 and 2013, respectively, pursuant to NNN’s performance incentive plan	10,345	8,218
Issued 7,831 and 7,774 shares of common stock in 2014 and 2013, respectively, to directors pursuant to NNN’s performance incentive plan	264	274
Issued 8,229 and 5,873 shares of common stock in 2014 and 2013, respectively, pursuant to NNN’s Deferred Director Fee Plan	131	75
Surrender of 241 shares of restricted common stock in 2013	0	7
Change in other comprehensive income	4,945	706
Mortgage receivable accepted in connection with real estate transactions	62	750
Note receivable accepted in connection with real estate transactions	$ 70	$ 0