One of the bright spots for BayernLB is Deutsche Kredit Bank, a unit with roots in communist East Germany, which dominates the apartment building and management business in eastern Germany.

The strength of Washington, D.C.'s office market, which has lifted the values of some properties to boom-era levels, also has helped busted developments in the nation's capital.

Fannie Mae is dealing with an uptick in souring loans backing apartment buildings made as the market peaked four years ago.

It is spring selling season for U.S. mall landlords, with property giants Westfield Group, Simon Property Group and General Growth Properties marketing 40 malls across the country.

The agency found buyers for a pool of about $400 million in commercial-real-estate loans that were sliced up into bonds.