EXHIBIT 23

                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT


The Board of Directors
Meritage Corporation:


We consent to incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No. 333-58793
on Form  S-3 of  Meritage  Corporation  and to  incorporation  by  reference  in
Registration  Statement Nos.  333-38230,  333-37859,  333-75629 and 333-39036 on
Form S-8 of Meritage  Corporation  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 report appears in
the December 31, 2001 annual report on Form 10-K of Meritage Corporation.


                                            /s/ KPMG LLP


Phoenix, Arizona
March 27, 2002