Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Earnings including noncontrolling interests	$ 197,961	$ 191,170	$ 160,085
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	134,798	116,165	99,617
Impairment losses and other charges	4,420	823	4,106
Impairment – commercial mortgage residual interests valuation	531	256	1,185
Amortization of notes payable discount	1,306	1,238	3,188
Amortization of debt costs	2,915	2,782	3,118
Amortization of mortgages payable premium	(207)	(93)	(57)
Amortization of deferred interest rate hedges	1,902	1,129	438
Interest rate hedge payment	(13,369)	(6,312)	(3,141)
Gain on disposition of real estate	(10,807)	(11,742)	(6,445)
Deferred income taxes	10,488	58	800
Performance incentive plan expense	10,474	9,841	8,518
Performance incentive plan payment	(676)	(2,808)	(2,138)
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations:
Additions to held for sale real estate	0	0	(1,029)
Decrease in real estate leased to others using the direct financing method	1,277	1,368	1,573
Decrease in mortgages, notes and accrued interest receivable	74	76	641
Decrease (increase) in receivables	(335)	16	62
Decrease (increase) in accrued rental income	(368)	(1,731)	165
Decrease (increase) in other assets	4,996	(2,256)	400
Increase (decrease) in accrued interest payable	2,717	254	(385)
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities	(6,610)	(4,746)	3,841
Other	(392)	1,245	(121)
Net cash provided by operating activities	341,095	296,733	274,421
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from the disposition of real estate	38,502	58,853	60,626
Additions to real estate:
Accounted for using the operating method	(683,243)	(602,780)	(637,417)
Increase in mortgages and notes receivable	0	(7,246)	(3,857)
Principal payments on mortgages and notes receivable	2,363	13,346	14,617
Other	(2,166)	(3,731)	(2,009)
Net cash used in investing activities	(644,544)	(541,558)	(568,040)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from line of credit payable	1,262,400	678,500	601,800
Repayment of line of credit payable	(1,262,400)	(724,900)	(729,600)
Repayment of mortgages payable	(2,035)	(1,151)	(1,070)
Proceeds from notes payable	399,036	349,293	347,406
Repayment of notes payable	(150,000)	(150,000)	0
Repayment of notes payable – convertible	0	0	(246,797)
Payment of debt costs	(3,654)	(6,321)	(3,265)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	332,117	360,072	267,613
Stock issuance costs	(4,198)	(10,726)	(13,529)
Payment of common stock dividends	(228,699)	(204,157)	(189,107)
Noncontrolling interest contributions	334	0	0
Noncontrolling interest distributions	(362)	(1,232)	0
Net cash provided by financing activities	307,105	253,944	293,028
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	3,656	9,119	(591)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	10,604	1,485	2,076
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	14,260	10,604	1,485
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	83,758	81,829	80,930
Taxes paid	234	59	360
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Issued 2,407,911 shares of common stock for conversion premium on 2028 Notes	0	0	85,224
Issued 285,263, 386,433 and 315,501 shares of restricted and unrestricted common stock in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, pursuant to NNN’s performance incentive plan	8,990	10,884	8,800
Issued 16,010, 16,016 and 12,308 shares of common stock in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, pursuant to NNN’s Deferred Director Fee Plan	287	263	162
Surrender of 241 shares of restricted common stock in 2013	0	0	7
Change in other comprehensive income	11,694	4,153	2,123
Change in lease classification (direct financing lease to operating lease)	1,179	0	1,156
Mortgages payable assumed in connection with real estate transactions	0	17,254	0
Mortgage receivable accepted in connection with real estate transactions	500	62	750
Note receivable accepted in connection with real estate transactions	0	70	0
Series D Preferred Stock
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment of preferred stock dividends	(19,047)	(19,047)	(19,047)
Series E Preferred Stock
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock	0	0	287,500
Payment of preferred stock dividends	$ (16,387)	$ (16,387)	$ (8,876)