As of July 31, 2000


Guaranty Federal Bank, F.S.B.
8333 Douglas Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75225


     Re:  Modification of an existing $65,000,000.00 guidance line from Guaranty
          Federal  Bank,  F.S.B.  ("Lender") to  Legacy/Monterey  Homes L.P., an
          Arizona  corporation  ("Borrower");  such loan and other  indebtedness
          being  guaranteed  by Meritage  Corporation,  a Maryland  corporation,
          MTH-Texas GP, Inc., an Arizona  corporation and MTH-Texas LP, Inc., an
          Arizona corporation (collectively referred to as "Guarantor")


Gentlemen:

     Reference is made to that certain Master Loan Agreement dated as of January
31, 1993 (and all amendments  thereto,  if any) (the "Loan  Agreement")  between
Lender and Borrower governing a $65,000,000.00  loan (as decreased) (the "Loan")
for the acquisition  and/or  refinancing of residential  lots located in certain
counties in the State of Texas as described  therein,  and the  construction  of
single-family  residences  thereon.  Unless otherwise  expressly defined herein,
each term used herein with its initial letter capitalized shall have the meaning
given to such term in the Loan Agreement. As used in this letter agreement,  the
term "Loan Instruments" shall mean and include the "Loan Instruments" as defined
in the Loan Agreement, this letter agreement and all other documents executed in
conjunction herewith (and all amendments thereto, if any).

     Borrower and Lender desire to amend and modify certain terms and provisions
of the Loan and the Loan Instruments as follows:

     1. The stated maturity date of the Note is hereby extended to and including
August 31, 2000, when the entire unpaid principal balance of the Note,  together
with  all  accrued  and  unpaid  interest  shall be due and  payable;  provided,
however,  such  date may be  extended  as set forth in  Paragraph  9 of the Loan
Agreement (as amended hereby).

     2.  Paragraph 11 of Exhibit A to the Loan  Agreement is hereby  modified by
deleting such paragraph in its entirety and replacing it with the following:

          Paragraph 9.  MATURITY AND  EXTENSION.  The maturity  date of the Note
          shall  be the  later  of the  maturity  date as  provided  in the Note
          (August 31, 2000) (the  "Stated  Maturity  Date"),  or nine (9) months
          after the recording in the Real Property  Records of the last Mortgage

Guaranty Federal Bank, F.S.B.
As of July 31, 2000
Page 2

          (the "Extended  Maturity  Date") approved by Lender and recorded prior
          to the  expiration  of the  Stated  Maturity  Date.  After the  Stated
          Maturity Date, no additional Mortgage shall be recorded.

     3. All  Loan  Instruments  hereby  are  amended  and  modified  in a manner
consistent with the  modifications,  terms and/or  provisions  contained herein.
Except as modified hereby, all the terms,  provisions and conditions of the Loan
Instruments shall remain in full force and effect.

     4. The terms and  provisions of this letter  agreement may not be modified,
amended,  altered or otherwise affected except by instrument in writing executed
by Lender and Borrower.

     5. Each  Guarantor  by its  execution  hereof agree to the  amendments  and
modifications  to the  Loan  Instruments  set  forth  herein  and  in the  prior
amendments and  modifications to the Loan Instruments and agree that all of such
modifications do not and will not waive,  release or in any manner modify either
Guarantor's obligations and liabilities under and pursuant to the Guaranty.

             (The balance of this page is intentionally left blank.)

Guaranty Federal Bank, F.S.B.
As of July 31, 2000
Page 3


     If this letter  agreement  correctly  sets forth our  understanding  of the
subject matter contained  herein,  please indicate this by executing this letter
agreement in the space furnished below and then return a fully-executed  copy to
the undersigned.

                                     Very truly yours,


                                     BORROWER:

                                     LEGACY/MONTEREY HOMES L.P.,
                                     an Arizona limited partnership


                                     BY:  MTH-TEXAS GP, INC.,
                                          an Arizona corporation,
                                          General Partner


                                          By: /s/ Rick Morgan
                                              ----------------------------------
                                              Name: Rick Morgan
                                                    ----------------------------
                                              Title: Vice President
                                                     ---------------------------

Guaranty Federal Bank, F.S.B.
As of July 31, 2000
Page 4


                                     GUARANTOR:

                                     MERITAGE CORPORATION,
                                     a Maryland corporation


                                     By: /s/ John Landon
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name: John Landon
                                               ---------------------------------
                                         Title: Co-CEO
                                                --------------------------------


                                     MTH-TEXAS GP, INC.,
                                     an Arizona corporation,


                                     By: /s/ Rick Morgan
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name: Rick Morgan
                                               ---------------------------------
                                         Title: Vice President
                                                --------------------------------


                                     MTH-TEXAS LP, INC., an Arizona corporation


                                     By: /s/ Rick Morgan
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name: Rick Morgan
                                               ---------------------------------
                                         Title: Vice President
                                                --------------------------------

Guaranty Federal Bank, F.S.B.
As of July 31, 2000
Page 5


ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO:

LENDER:

GUARANTY FEDERAL BANK, F.S.B.,
a federal savings bank


By:
    ---------------------------------------
    Name:
          ---------------------------------
    Title:
           --------------------------------