Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Earnings including noncontrolling interests	$ 173,381	$ 155,485
Adjustments to reconcile earnings including noncontrolling interests to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	110,114	99,950
Impairment losses – real estate and other charges, net of recoveries	10,949	3,711
Impairment – commercial mortgage residual interests valuation	6,830	481
Amortization of notes payable discount	1,030	964
Amortization of debt costs	2,276	2,142
Amortization of mortgages payable premium	(126)	(156)
Amortization of deferred interest rate hedges	2,122	1,256
Gain on disposition of real estate	(22,558)	(9,231)
Performance incentive plan expense	8,714	7,524
Performance incentive plan payment	(581)	(676)
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	1,054	945
Decrease in mortgages, notes and accrued interest receivable	26	73
Decrease in receivables	871	993
Decrease in accrued rental income	21	161
Decrease (increase) in other assets	(227)	5,137
Increase in accrued interest payable	12,679	12,117
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities	8,315	(3,161)
Other	(684)	267
Net cash provided by operating activities	314,206	277,982
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from the disposition of real estate	83,722	33,064
Transfers from (to) restricted cash and cash held in escrow	601	(600)
Additions to real estate:
Accounted for using the operating method	(637,603)	(527,818)
Principal payments on mortgages and notes receivable	468	1,075
Other	(2,010)	(1,697)
Net cash used in investing activities	(554,822)	(495,976)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from line of credit payable	1,090,200	1,194,500
Repayment of line of credit payable	(906,000)	(912,100)
Repayment of mortgages payable	(7,125)	(1,657)
Payment of debt costs	(159)	(75)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	277,076	127,485
Stock issuance costs	(4,266)	(2,206)
Payment of common stock dividends	(190,277)	(169,674)
Noncontrolling interest distributions	0	(292)
Net cash provided by financing activities	232,873	209,405
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(7,743)	(8,589)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	13,659	10,604
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	5,916	2,015
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	55,185	50,770
Taxes paid (received)	(49)	224
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Issued 281,870 and 279,712 shares of restricted and unrestricted common stock in 2016 and 2015, respectively, pursuant to NNN’s performance incentive plan	11,170	8,778
Change in other comprehensive income	719	9,357
Mortgage receivable accepted in connection with real estate transactions	0	500
Change in lease classification (direct financing lease to operating lease)	0	1,179
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)