Exhibit 23.1


                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

The Board of Directors
Meritage Corporation:

We consent to the use of our report dated February 6, 2002,  with respect to the
consolidated  balance  sheets of Meritage  Corporation  and  subsidiaries  as of
December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the related consolidated statements of earnings,
stockholders'  equity  and cash  flows for each of the  years in the  three-year
period ended  December 31, 2001,  which  appears in the December 31, 2001 annual
report on Form 10-K of Meritage Corporation, incorporated herein by reference.

                                        /s/ KPMG LLP

Phoenix, Arizona
July 3, 2002