Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Earnings including noncontrolling interests	$ 54,038	$ 43,841
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	32,141	28,012
Impairment charges	1,028	459
Impairment – commercial mortgage residual interests valuation	0	158
Amortization of notes payable discount	317	302
Amortization of debt costs	709	656
Amortization of mortgages payable premium	(52)	(15)
Amortization of deferred interest rate hedges	414	135
Gain on disposition of real estate	(7,230)	(1,963)
Performance incentive plan expense	2,575	2,338
Performance incentive plan payment	(676)	(2,808)
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations:
Decrease in real estate leased to others using the direct financing method	334	328
Decrease (increase) in mortgages, notes and accrued interest receivable	59	(137)
Decrease in receivables	1,044	417
Increase in accrued rental income	(205)	(601)
Decrease in other assets	4,539	742
Increase in accrued interest payable	11,907	10,854
Decrease in other liabilities	(4,311)	(3,205)
Other	507	299
Net cash provided by operating activities	97,138	79,812
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from the disposition of real estate	22,697	12,301
Additions to real estate:
Accounted for using the operating method	(151,319)	(89,862)
Increase in mortgages and notes receivable	0	(3,245)
Principal payments on mortgages and notes receivable	296	214
Other	(593)	(1,100)
Net cash used in investing activities	(128,919)	(81,692)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from line of credit payable	227,100	251,000
Repayment of line of credit payable	(185,200)	(205,900)
Repayment of mortgages payable	(409)	(279)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	49,370	21,144
Stock issuance costs	(991)	(304)
Payment of common stock dividends	(55,314)	(49,273)
Noncontrolling interest distributions	(64)	(1,208)
Net cash provided by financing activities	25,633	6,321
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(6,148)	4,441
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	10,604	1,485
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	4,456	5,926
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	8,881	8,781
Taxes paid	116	27
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Issued 267,133 and 371,134 shares of restricted and unrestricted common stock in 2015 and 2014, respectively, pursuant to NNN’s performance incentive plan	8,285	10,345
Issued 3,602 and 3,985 shares of common stock in 2015 and 2014, respectively, to directors pursuant to NNN’s performance incentive plan	154	132
Issued 3,435 and 4,162 shares of common stock in 2015 and 2014, respectively, pursuant to NNN’s Deferred Director Fee Plan	66	66
Change in other comprehensive income	141	2,439
Mortgage receivable accepted in connection with real estate transactions	500	0
Note receivable accepted in connection with real estate transactions	0	70
Change in lease classification (direct financing lease to operating lease)	311	0
Series D Depositary Share
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment of Series D and Series E preferred stock dividends	(4,762)	(4,762)
Series E Depositary Share
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment of Series D and Series E preferred stock dividends	$ (4,097)	$ (4,097)