UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 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) November 30, 1998
                                                        -----------------

                              MERITAGE CORPORATION
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



         Maryland                     1-9977                     86-0611231
- ----------------------------        -----------                 -------------
(State or other jurisdiction        (Commission                 (IRS Employer
    of incorporation)               File Number)             Identification No.)



6613 North Scottsdale Road, Suite 200, Scottsdale, Arizona          85250
- ----------------------------------------------------------        ---------
      (Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code (602) 998-8700
                                                         ---------------


                                      NONE
         --------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
ITEMS 1-4. NOT APPLICABLE.


ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.

     The Company has  received  information  that Summit  Venture  Partners  has
commenced a tender  offer to  purchase up to two (2) percent of the  outstanding
shares of the Company's  common stock.  Exhibit 99.1 attached  hereto is a press
release containing the Company's response to the tender offer.

ITEM 6. NOT APPLICABLE.

ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

        (a) Not Applicable

        (b) Not Applicable

        (c) Exhibit 99.1 Press Release dated December 18, 1998

ITEM 8. NOT APPLICABLE

                                   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.


                                         MERITAGE CORPORATION


Date: December 22, 1998             By: /s/ Larry W. Seay
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                            Larry W. Seay
                                            Vice President of Finance and
                                            Chief Financial Officer

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