Meritage Homes Expands High Performance Green Homes to Texas Market

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Extreme Energy Saving Features Revolutionize New Home Construction, Making Homes More Energy Efficient and Affordable

FORT WORTH, Texas & SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Meritage Homes (NYSE: MTH) announced today it has expanded its high performance green homes to the Texas market. In the next two weeks, Meritage will open green communities in Dallas/Fort Worth and San Antonio. The company's energy efficient homes are revolutionizing new home construction and saving homeowners up to 60% on energy bills. In addition, the homes are two to three times more efficient than standard ENERGY STAR(R) homes.

"We are the only top-10 homebuilder in Texas offering an energy efficient home of this caliber at no additional cost to homeowners," said Steve Hilton, President and CEO of Meritage Homes. "We've changed how we build homes and we expect it is going to change the industry. Our goal is to pioneer a new standard, building family communities with extremely energy efficient homes. The result is a design that delivers a significant savings without sacrificing comfort, function or style."

The two communities, Rolling Creek in San Antonio and The Lakes of River Trails in Fort Worth, will also feature the first deconstructed "Learning House" of its kind that literally peels back the walls and ceilings of the home to showcase its energy saving features.

"You will be able to see how different this home construction is from its windows and wall systems to its lighting, thermostats, appliances and dual-flush toilets," said C.R. Herro, Vice President, Environmental Affairs for Meritage Homes. "When all of these components work together, it creates a home that is more sustainable, cleaner and quieter."

Every home includes these energy saving features: 

    --  Spray Foam Insulationcreates a seamless, thermally efficient insulation
        blanket that completely prevents air leakage and offers 3X the R-value
        of standard fiberglass insulation.
    --  Double Low-E Vinyl Windowsreduce energy loss by up to 50%.
    --  Energy Efficient CFL Lightingreduces energy usage by 75%.
    --  Weather Sensing Irrigation Systemenables landscaping to meet standards
        of EPA's new WaterSense program. (*not standard in San Antonio)
    --  High Performance Water Saving Plumbing Fixturesincluding dual-flush
        toilets,reduce water bills and water heating costs by up to 50%.
    --  14-SEER Air Conditioning Unitcan lower cooling costs by up to 40%.

Meritage was awarded the 2011 Energy Value Housing Award from the National Association of Homebuilders for its first extreme energy efficiency community at the Lyon's Gate Community located in Gilbert, Arizona as well as the 2011 People's Choice Award recognizing the home builder for voluntarily incorporating energy efficiency in the design, construction and marketing of its homes.

About Meritage Homes Corporation

Meritage Homes Corporation is the 9th largest homebuilder in the U.S. based on homes closed. Meritage offers a variety of homes across the Southern and Western states designed to appeal to a wide range of home buyers, including first-time, move-up, luxury and active adult buyers, with base prices starting from under $100,000. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had 151 actively selling communities in 12 metropolitan areas including Houston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Phoenix/Scottsdale, Tucson, Las Vegas, Denver, Orlando, and the East Bay/Central Valley and Inland Empire of California.

In 2010, Meritage celebrated its 25th Anniversary, launched a new Simply Smart Series(TM) of homes and a 99-day guaranteed completion program in certain communities, and is the only large national homebuilder to be 100% ENERGY STAR(R) qualified in every home started since January 1, 2010. Meritage has designed and built nearly 70,000 homes in its 25-year history, and has a reputation for its distinctive style, quality construction and positive customer experience. To find a Meritage community near you, go to www.meritagehomes.com.

Meritage Homes is listed on the NYSE under the symbol MTH.

For more information about the Company, visit http://investors.meritagehomes.com.

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    Source: Meritage Homes

Released January 31, 2011