Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 Series D Depositary Share	Sep. 30, 2013 Series D Depositary Share	Sep. 30, 2014 Series E Depositary Share	Sep. 30, 2013 Series E Depositary Share
Cash flows from operating activities:
Earnings including noncontrolling interests	$ 137,396	$ 115,851
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	85,790	72,423
Impairment charges	625	4,003
Impairment – commercial mortgage residual interests valuation	256	16
Amortization of notes payable discount	924	2,888
Amortization of debt costs	2,066	2,460
Amortization of mortgages payable premium	(49)	(43)
Amortization of deferred interest rate hedges	736	306
Interest rate hedge payment	(6,312)	(3,141)
Gain on disposition of real estate	(8,627)	(4,402)
Performance incentive plan expense	7,334	6,531
Performance incentive plan payment	(2,808)	(2,139)
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	1,013	1,230
Decrease in mortgages, notes and accrued interest receivable	60	688
Decrease in receivables	894	1,433
Increase in accrued rental income	(1,224)	(166)
Decrease in other assets	1,178	82
Increase in accrued interest payable	13,395	10,386
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities	(1,870)	4,061
Other	976	500
Net cash provided by operating activities	231,753	211,938
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from the disposition of real estate	44,748	52,092
Additions to real estate:
Accounted for using the operating method	(525,371)	(569,770)
Increase in mortgages and notes receivable	(7,246)	(3,086)
Principal payments on mortgages and notes receivable	13,158	14,225
Other	(3,032)	(1,750)
Net cash used in investing activities	(477,743)	(508,289)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from line of credit payable	557,000	445,000
Repayment of line of credit payable	(468,500)	(619,200)
Repayment of mortgages payable	(825)	(795)
Proceeds from notes payable	349,293	347,406
Repayment of notes payable	(150,000)	0
Repayment of notes payable – convertible	0	(246,797)
Payment of debt costs	(3,263)	(3,265)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	146,978	263,366
Proceeds from issuance of Series E preferred stock	0	287,500
Payment of Series D and Series E preferred stock dividends			(14,285)	(14,285)	(12,291)	(4,780)
Stock issuance costs	(2,192)	(13,455)
Payment of common stock dividends	(151,274)	(139,890)
Noncontrolling interest distributions	(1,232)	0
Net cash provided by financing activities	249,409	300,805
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	3,419	4,454
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	1,485	2,076
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	4,904	6,530
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	47,927	50,667
Taxes paid	142	212
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 11,511 and 12,186 shares of common stock in 2014 and 2013, respectively, to directors pursuant to NNN’s performance incentive plan	396	428
Issued 12,166 and 9,044 shares of common stock in 2014 and 2013, respectively, pursuant to NNN’s Deferred Director Fee Plan	197	118
Surrender of 241 shares of restricted common stock in 2013	0	7
Change in other comprehensive income	4,986	166
Mortgages payable assumed in connection with real estate transactions	2,824	0
Mortgage receivable accepted in connection with real estate transactions	62	750
Note receivable accepted in connection with real estate transactions	$ 70	$ 0