The Way To 200K: Meritage Homes Celebrates 40th Anniversary

Core Insights - Meritage Homes celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2025, having delivered 200,000 homes since its founding in 1985 [1][2][11] - The company has evolved from a semi-custom luxury builder to focusing on affordable entry-level homes since 2016, becoming the fifth largest public homebuilder in the U.S. [1][5][10] Company Evolution - Meritage began as an Arizona homebuilder and expanded regionally in the Southwest and California through strategic mergers and acquisitions [3] - Over the last 20 years, the company diversified its geographic footprint to become a national homebuilder, expanding into the Southeast and sunbelt states [3] Strategic Focus - In 2009, Meritage adopted an energy-efficient construction focus, which has been a key driver of its growth by offering homeowners lower utility bills [4] - The company implemented a new strategy in 2016 to focus on entry-level homes, enhancing its market strategy with a 60-day closing commitment to compete against the resale market [5] Commitment to Quality - Meritage is dedicated to delivering a "Life.Built.Better.®" to stakeholders, receiving high customer satisfaction scores and multiple awards for its quality and service [6][11] - The company has been recognized as a Great Place to Work® for the past three years, emphasizing employee development and well-being [7] Community Engagement - Meritage established the Meritage Cares philanthropic foundation in 2014, contributing nearly $22 million to charitable organizations through employee-selected initiatives [8] - The company has been honored with the Hearthstone Builder Humanitarian Award in 2023 for its commitment to public service [8] Industry Recognition - Meritage is recognized as an industry leader in energy-efficient homebuilding, receiving multiple awards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its excellence in sustainability [11]