CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$ 246,283	$ 159,152	$ 157,032
Adjustments to net income:
Depreciation and amortization	306,577	147,323	116,546
Income from discontinued operations	(67,103)	(18,433)	(17,410)
Amortization of share-based compensation	20,785	10,001	7,873
Non-cash rental revenue adjustments	(5,554)	(3,898)	(1,602)
Amortization of net premiums on mortgages payable	(9,481)	(665)	(189)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	9,364	6,849	5,265
Gain on sale of real estate			(540)
Provisions for impairment on real estate held for investment	290	3,639	10
Other non-cash adjustments		(301)
Cash provided by discontinued operations:
Real estate	7,224	14,044	18,245
Proceeds from sale of real estate	597
Collection of notes receivable by Crest	209	90	3,032
Change in assets and liabilities, other than from the impact of our acquisition of American Realty Capital Trust, Inc., or ARCT
Accounts receivable and other assets	(3,131)	483	2,511
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	12,846	8,185	8,179
Net cash provided by operating activities	518,906	326,469	298,952
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Acquisition of investment properties, net of cash received	(1,429,483)	(1,015,725)	(953,175)
Improvements to real estate, including leasing costs	(8,507)	(6,554)	(4,172)
Proceeds from sales of real estate:
Continuing operations	8	23	2,078
Discontinued operations	126,785	50,563	22,049
Loans receivable	(10,656)	(34,876)	(1,593)
Restricted escrow deposits for Section 1031 tax-deferred exchanges and pending acquisitions	(10,158)	(1,805)	(50)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,332,011)	(1,008,374)	(934,863)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash distributions to common stockholders	(409,222)	(236,348)	(219,297)
Cash dividends to preferred stockholders	(41,930)	(39,445)	(24,253)
Borrowings on line of credit	2,624,700	1,074,000	612,800
Payments on line of credit	(2,654,700)	(1,153,400)	(375,400)
Proceeds from notes and bonds payable issued	750,000	800,000	150,000
Principal payment on notes payable	(100,000)
Principal payments on mortgages payable	(32,603)	(11,729)	(279)
Proceeds from term loan	70,000
Repayment of ARCT line of credit	(317,207)
Repayment of ARCT term loan	(235,000)
Proceeds from common stock offerings, net	1,133,574		489,236
Proceeds from preferred stock offerings, net		395,377
Redemption of preferred stock		(127,500)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(1,216)
Debt issuance costs	(10,666)	(16,979)	(9,864)
Proceeds from dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan, net	55,806	2,159	1,894
Other items, including shares withheld upon vesting	(13,422)	(3,147)	(2,368)
Net cash provided by financing activities	818,114	682,988	622,469
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	5,009	1,083	(13,442)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	5,248	4,165	17,607
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	$ 10,257	$ 5,248	$ 4,165