<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-06-004579
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20060215
<FILING-DATE>20060223
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20060223
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>Karrmann Sandra R
<CIK>0001354100
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-09977
<FILM-NUMBER>06640490
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>972.543.8100
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2745 NORTH DALLAS PARKWAY
<STREET2>SUITE 600
<CITY>PLANO
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>75093
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>Meritage Homes CORP
<CIK>0000833079
<ASSIGNED-SIC>1531
<IRS-NUMBER>860611231
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>MD
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>8501 E. PRINCESS DRIVE
<STREET2>STE 290
<CITY>SCOTTSDALE
<STATE>AZ
<ZIP>85255
<PHONE>4802222444
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>8501 E. PRINCESS DRIVE
<STREET2>SUITE 290
<CITY>SCOTTSDALE
<STATE>AZ
<ZIP>85255
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>MERITAGE CORP
<DATE-CHANGED>19981009
</FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>MONTEREY HOMES CORP
<DATE-CHANGED>19970113
</FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>HOMEPLEX MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS CORP
<DATE-CHANGED>19920703
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-02-15</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000833079</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Meritage Homes CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MTH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001354100</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Karrmann Sandra R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2745 NORTH DALLAS PARKWAY, #600</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PLANO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75093</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP - Chief HR Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>MTH Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>67.49</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-12-05</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-12-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>MTH Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>MTH Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>67.49</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-12-05</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-12-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>MTH Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>MTH Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>67.49</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-12-05</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-12-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>MTH Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>MTH Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>67.49</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-12-05</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-12-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>MTH Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>MTH Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>67.49</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-12-05</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-12-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>MTH Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Sandra R.A. Karrmann</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-02-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
