CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($)		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Earnings including noncontrolling interests		$ 73,648,000	$ 70,676,000
Adjustments to reconcile earnings including noncontrolling interests to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		40,143,000	34,655,000
Impairment losses – real estate and other charges, net of recoveries		1,206,000	572,000
Impairment – commercial mortgage residual interests valuation		0	220,000
Amortization of notes payable discount		437,000	338,000
Amortization of debt costs		859,000	756,000
Amortization of mortgages payable premium		(21,000)	(51,000)
Amortization of deferred interest rate hedges		447,000	695,000
Gain on disposition of real estate		(14,624,000)	(16,875,000)
Performance incentive plan expense		2,755,000	2,880,000
Performance incentive plan payment		(862,000)	(581,000)
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		231,000	340,000
Increase in mortgages, notes and accrued interest receivable		0	(24,000)
Decrease in receivables		307,000	471,000
Increase in accrued rental income		(675,000)	(242,000)
Decrease (increase) in other assets		453,000	(161,000)
Increase in accrued interest payable		16,714,000	13,524,000
Decrease in other liabilities		(3,701,000)	(4,457,000)
Other		(125,000)	(313,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities		117,192,000	102,423,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from the disposition of real estate		39,251,000	50,902,000
Additions to real estate:
Accounted for using the operating method		(98,058,000)	(126,577,000)
Principal payments on mortgages and notes receivable		0	95,000
Other		(40,000)	(652,000)
Net cash used in investing activities		(58,847,000)	(76,232,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from line of credit payable		103,700,000	63,500,000
Repayment of line of credit payable		(103,700,000)	(63,500,000)
Repayment of mortgages payable		(127,000)	(6,857,000)
Payment of debt costs		(92,000)	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		49,011,000	89,135,000
Stock issuance costs		(798,000)	(1,380,000)
Redemption of Series D preferred stock		(287,500,000)	0
Payment of common stock dividends		(66,781,000)	(61,151,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(318,467,000)	10,888,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		(260,122,000)	37,079,000
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	[1]	294,540,000	14,260,000
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	[1]	34,418,000	51,339,000
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized		8,732,000	8,835,000
Taxes received		(3,000)	0
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in other comprehensive income		33,000	694,000
Change in lease classification (direct financing lease to operating lease)		696,000	0
Restricted cash and cash held in escrow		0	43,136,000
Series D Depositary Share
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment of Series D, E and F preferred stock dividends		(3,598,000)	(4,762,000)
Series E Depositary Share
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment of Series D, E and F preferred stock dividends		(4,097,000)	(4,097,000)
Series F Preferred Stock
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment of Series D, E and F preferred stock dividends		$ (4,485,000)	$ 0

[1] Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the period is the aggregate of Cash and cash equivalents and Restricted cash and cash held in escrow from the Consolidated Balance Sheets. NNN had no restricted cash and cash held in escrow at March 31, 2017 and $43,136 at March 31, 2016.