<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-06-020063
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20061016
<FILING-DATE>20061018
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20061018
<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>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>DAVIS STEVEN M
<CIK>0001203308
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-09977
<FILM-NUMBER>061151637
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O KB HOME
<STREET2>10990 WILSHIRE BLVD., #700
<CITY>LOS ANGELES
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>90024
<PHONE>310-231-4123
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>10990 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD
<STREET2>#700
<CITY>LOS ANGELES
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>90024
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<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>2006-10-16</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001203308</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DAVIS STEVEN M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>17851 NORTH 85TH STREET, SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SCOTTSDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>85255</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec. Vice President</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>MTH COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Steven M. Davis</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-10-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
