Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Earnings including noncontrolling interests	$ 155,485	$ 137,396
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	99,950	85,790
Impairment losses, net of recoveries	3,711	625
Impairment – commercial mortgage residual interests valuation	481	256
Amortization of notes payable discount	964	924
Amortization of debt costs	2,142	2,066
Amortization of mortgages payable premium	(156)	(49)
Amortization of deferred interest rate hedges	1,256	736
Interest rate hedge payment	0	(6,312)
Gain on disposition of real estate	(9,231)	(8,627)
Performance incentive plan expense	7,524	7,334
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	945	1,013
Decrease in mortgages, notes and accrued interest receivable	73	60
Decrease in receivables	993	894
Decrease (increase) in accrued rental income	161	(1,414)
Decrease in other assets	5,137	1,178
Increase in accrued interest payable	12,117	13,395
Decrease in other liabilities	(3,161)	(1,870)
Other	267	1,166
Net cash provided by operating activities	277,982	231,753
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from the disposition of real estate	33,064	44,748
Additions to real estate:
Accounted for using the operating method	(527,818)	(525,371)
Increase in mortgages and notes receivable	0	(7,246)
Principal payments on mortgages and notes receivable	1,075	13,158
Other	(1,697)	(3,032)
Net cash used in investing activities	(495,376)	(477,743)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from line of credit payable	1,194,500	557,000
Repayment of line of credit payable	(912,100)	(468,500)
Repayment of mortgages payable	(1,657)	(825)
Proceeds from notes payable	0	349,293
Repayment of notes payable	0	(150,000)
Payment of debt costs	(75)	(3,263)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	127,485	146,978
Stock issuance costs	(2,206)	(2,192)
Payment of common stock dividends	(169,674)	(151,274)
Noncontrolling interest distributions	(292)	(1,232)
Net cash provided by financing activities	209,405	249,409
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(7,989)	3,419
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	10,604	1,485
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	2,615	4,904
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	50,770	47,927
Taxes paid	224	142
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Issued 279,712 and 382,645 shares of restricted and unrestricted common stock in 2015 and 2014, respectively, pursuant to NNN’s performance incentive plan	8,778	10,741
Issued 11,658 and 12,166 shares of common stock in 2015 and 2014, respectively, pursuant to NNN’s Deferred Director Fee Plan	209	197
Change in other comprehensive income	9,357	4,986
Mortgages payable assumed in connection with real estate transactions	0	2,824
Mortgage receivable accepted in connection with real estate transactions	500	62
Note receivable accepted in connection with real estate transactions	0	70
Change in lease classification (direct financing lease to operating lease)	1,179	0
Series D Depositary Share
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment of Series D and Series E preferred stock dividends	(14,285)	(14,285)
Series E Depositary Share
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment of Series D and Series E preferred stock dividends	$ (12,291)	$ (12,291)