FIABCI was founded in 1945 as CNAB (French National Federation of Property Managers) with the intention of having international reach. In 1946 the first national Congress of CNAB was held, with the participation of real estate professionals from other countries including USA and Switzerland.

1948 saw the first International CNAB Congress with delegates from 6 countries, which is considered the first International Congress of the Federation, although the organization was not constituted officially until 1951 when was the Constitution of the International Federation of Property Managers with Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, and the United Statesas well as the Second International Congress of the Federation.

In 1954 the Federation obtained consultative status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The present name FIABCI Fédération Internationale des Administrateurs de Biens Conseils et Agents Immobiliers was adopted in 1956 on an International Congress held in Vienna.

In 1959 a permanent office to the European Community was instituted. In 1964 the Federation was renamed as ‘The International Real Estate Federation’, but the acronym FIABCI, already recognized worldwide, was kept.