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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

               CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
      AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

     In connection with the Current Report of Meritage Corporation (the
"Company") on Form 8-K dated July 12, 2002, as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Steven J. Hilton,
Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company certify, to the extent required by
applicable law, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. ss. 1350, as adopted pursuant to ss. 906
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

     (1)  The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or
          15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

     (2)  The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
          material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
          of the Company.

                                        MERITAGE CORPORATION
                                        a Maryland Corporation

                                        By /s/ STEVEN J. HILTON
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Steven J. Hilton
                                           CO-CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

                                           September 10, 2002
                                           ------------------
                                           date


