Sustaining success: Boston University senior risks it all to pursue an idea

Innovative students decide to start their own business during an economic downturn. Boston University senior Alex Hodara got his real estate license his freshman year and ended up starting a brokerage.

By Marissa Pendergrass

Students across America are looking for ways to make a living in a tough economic climate. Some are returning to school due to the job market, while others are looking for ways to be innovative and aggressive with their future.

Boston University senior Alex Hodara is a business administration student who decided to get his real estate license as a freshman. His parents didn't approve of it at the time, but Hodara is living proof that a young adult can start with nothing and make it big.

"In the beginning, the idea was not to start a brokerage. I just wanted to be a real estate agent," said Hodara. According to Hodara, he ended up with Hodara Real Estate which claims to have "pioneered the first student owned and operated real estate brokerage."

One of those students who works with Hodara is Jeffrey Zucker. Zucker is also a business administration student at Boston University.  He co-owns the property management division of Hodara Real Estate and works with landlords to manage rented properties.

"When I have the business stuff to do on the table and I also have some school project, it's really hard to focus on the school project when ideas are just flowing in for the business stuff," said Zucker.  "So its a challenge to really get everything done for both of them."

Hodara decided to take one challenge at a time and says he has accomplished more than he expected in four years of college. "I didn't have any goal at all. Still to this day I don't know where I'm going with my life," said Hodara. "That's kind of how my whole life has been because I'm still in school."

Hodara and Zucker plan to stay in Boston after they graduate to work with Hodara Real Estate.