Meritage Homes Appoints New Orlando Division President

Clint Szubinski and Fred Vandercook Promoted Into New Roles

PHOENIX, Feb. 21, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Meritage Homes (NYSE:MTH) appointed Clint Szubinski to run its Orlando division, replacing Fred Vandercook, who was promoted to Southeast Region president earlier this month. Szubinski will report to Vandercook in his new role, and the two will direct Meritage's expansion in the Florida market.

Mr. Szubinski has nine years experience in the homebuilding industry, and has been with Meritage for the past two years. He was instrumental in Meritage becoming one of Orlando's largest and fastest growing homebuilders, and secured land positions for the company's first communities in Raleigh, North Carolina, which opened in late 2011. He is a graduate of Louisiana State University, where he earned degrees in political science, business administration and law.

Vandercook, a 30-year veteran homebuilder, will be responsible for growing the company's presence in the Southeast, including the Florida and North Carolina divisions. Fred has previously served as president of Meritage's Central Florida and Southern California divisions. Both divisions grew revenue and earnings under his leadership.

ABOUT MERITAGE HOMES CORPORATION

Meritage Homes is one of the top 10 homebuilders in the United States based on homes closed. Meritage builds a variety of homes across the Southern and Western states to appeal to a wide range of buyers, including first-time, move-up, luxury and active adults. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had 157 actively selling communities in 13 metropolitan areas, including Houston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Phoenix/Scottsdale, Tucson, Las Vegas, Denver, Orlando, Raleigh and the East Bay/Central Valley and Southern California. Meritage also announced its expansion into the Tampa, Florida market in December 2011.

Meritage has designed and built more than 70,000 homes in its 26-year history, and has a reputation for its distinctive style, quality construction and positive customer experience. In 2010, Meritage launched its new Simply Smart Series™ of homes and its 99-day guaranteed completion program in certain communities. Meritage was the first large national homebuilder to be 100 percent ENERGY STAR® qualified in every home started since January 1, 2010.

For more information, visit meritagehomes.com.

The Meritage Homes Corporation logo is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2624

CONTACT: Brent Anderson
         (972) 580-6360 (office)
         Brent.Anderson@meritagehomes.com

         Lisa Noble
         (602) 417-0685 (office)
         lnoble@c-k.com

Released February 21, 2012