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  Quarterly  Report of  Meritage  Corporation  (the
"Company")  on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2003, 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 best of my
knowledge, that:

     (1)  The Report fully  complies with the  requirements  of Section 13(1) 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

                                        Date: May 13, 2003