Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Earnings including noncontrolling interests	$ 191,170	$ 160,085	$ 141,937
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	116,165	99,617	75,334
Impairment losses and other charges	823	4,106	10,114
Impairment – commercial mortgage residual interests valuation	256	1,185	2,812
Amortization of notes payable discount	1,238	3,188	4,976
Amortization of debt costs	2,782	3,118	2,584
Amortization of mortgages payable premium	(93)	(57)	(29)
Amortization of deferred interest rate hedges	1,129	438	231
Interest rate hedge payment	(6,312)	(3,141)	0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate	0	0	(4,074)
Distributions received from unconsolidated affiliate	0	0	7,019
Gain on disposition of real estate	(11,742)	(6,445)	(10,956)
Deferred income taxes	58	800	(7,034)
Performance incentive plan expense	9,841	8,518	10,136
Performance incentive plan payment	(2,808)	(2,138)	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)	(6,616)
Decrease in real estate leased to others using the direct financing method	1,368	1,573	1,624
Decrease (increase) in mortgages, notes and accrued interest receivable	76	641	(187)
Decrease (increase) in receivables	16	62	(264)
Decrease (increase) in accrued rental income	(1,490)	368	(456)
Decrease (increase) in other assets	(2,256)	400	1,657
Increase (decrease) in accrued interest payable	254	(385)	2,419
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities	(4,746)	3,841	(2,002)
Other	1,004	(324)	(1,095)
Net cash provided by operating activities	296,733	274,421	228,130
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from the disposition of real estate	58,853	60,626	81,402
Additions to real estate:
Accounted for using the operating method	(602,780)	(637,417)	(684,925)
Increase in mortgages and notes receivable	(7,246)	(3,857)	(8,768)
Principal payments on mortgages and notes receivable	13,346	14,617	12,804
Return of investment from unconsolidated affiliate	0	0	1,220
Other	(3,731)	(2,009)	(3,492)
Net cash used in investing activities	(541,558)	(568,040)	(601,759)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from line of credit payable	678,500	601,800	1,184,900
Repayment of line of credit payable	(724,900)	(729,600)	(1,076,300)
Repayment of mortgages payable	(1,151)	(1,070)	(19,390)
Proceeds from notes payable	349,293	347,406	320,011
Repayment of notes payable	(150,000)	0	(50,000)
Repayment of notes payable – convertible	0	(246,797)	(164,649)
Payment of debt costs	(6,321)	(3,265)	(4,512)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	360,072	267,613	185,223
Redemption of Series C preferred stock	0	0	(92,000)
Stock issuance costs	(10,726)	(13,529)	(12,237)
Payment of common stock dividends	(204,157)	(189,107)	(167,495)
Noncontrolling interest distributions	(1,232)	0	0
Net cash provided by financing activities	253,944	293,028	373,623
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	9,119	(591)	(6)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	1,485	2,076	2,082
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	10,604	1,485	2,076
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	81,829	80,930	75,283
Taxes paid	59	360	201
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Issued 2,407,911 shares of common stock for conversion premium on 2028 Notes	0	85,224	0
Issued 371,434, 298,896 and 398,578 shares of restricted and unrestricted common stock in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, pursuant to NNN’s performance incentive plan	10,357	8,218	8,638
Issued 14,999, 16,605 and 16,078 shares of common stock in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, to directors pursuant to NNN’s performance incentive plan	527	582	463
Issued 16,016, 12,308 and 19,212 shares of common stock in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, pursuant to NNN’s Deferred Director Fee Plan	263	162	298
Surrender of 241 and 15,286 shares of restricted common stock in 2013 and 2012, respectively	0	7	357
Change in other comprehensive income	4,153	2,123	1,448
Change in lease classification (direct financing lease to operating lease)	0	1,156	1,678
Mortgages payable assumed in connection with real estate transactions	17,254	0	6,634
Mortgage receivable accepted in connection with real estate transactions	62	750	0
Note receivable accepted in connection with real estate transactions	70	0	0
Real estate acquired in connection with mortgage receivable foreclosure	0	0	490
Real estate received in note receivable foreclosure	0	0	1,595
Series C Preferred Stock
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment of preferred stock dividends	0	0	(1,979)
Series D Preferred Stock
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock	0	0	287,500
Payment of preferred stock dividends	(19,047)	(19,047)	(15,449)
Series E Preferred Stock
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock	0	287,500	0
Payment of preferred stock dividends	$ (16,387)	$ (8,876)	$ 0