SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


        DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED): APRIL 24, 2003


                              MERITAGE CORPORATION
               (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER)


          MARYLAND                        I-9977                 86-0611231
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION           (COMMISSION             (IRS EMPLOYER
      OF INCORPORATION)                FILE NUMBER)          IDENTIFICATION NO.)


8501 E. PRINCESS DRIVE, SUITE 290, SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA             85255
        (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)                 (ZIP CODE)


                                 (480) 609-3330
              (REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE)


                                 NOT APPLICABLE
          (FORMER NAME OR FORMER ADDRESS, IF CHANGED SINCE LAST REPORT)
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

     (c)  Exhibits

            99.1    Press Release dated April 24, 2003.

ITEM 9. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE AND

ITEM 12. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

     References to "we," "our" and "us" in this Current Report on Form 8-K refer
to Meritage Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.

     On April 24, 2003,  we issued a press release to announce our first quarter
earnings  for the three  months  ended  March  31,  2003.  A copy of this  press
release, including information concerning forward-looking statements and factors
that may affect our future  results,  is  attached as Exhibit  99.1.  This press
release is being furnished, not filed, under Item 12 in this Report on Form 8-K.

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated:  April 24, 2003

                                        MERITAGE CORPORATION

                                        By: /s/ Vicki L. Biggs
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Vicki L. Biggs
                                            Chief Accounting Officer and
                                            Vice President-Controller
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT NO.       DESCRIPTION
- -----------       -----------

99.1              Earnings Release - First Quarter 2003