EXHIBIT 23




                          CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP
                              INDEPENDENT AUDITORS



We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Annual Report (Form 10-K)
of Capstead Mortgage Corporation of our report dated January 29, 1996, included
in the 1995 Annual Report to Stockholders of Capstead Mortgage Corporation.

Our audit also included the financial statement schedules of Capstead Mortgage
Corporation listed in Item 14(a).  These schedules are the responsibility of the
Company's management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our
audits.  In our opinion, the financial statement schedules referred to above,
when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole,
present fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement
(Form S-8 No. 33-40116) pertaining to the 1990 Employee Stock Option Plan, the
Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 33-40117) pertaining to the 1990 Directors'
Stock Option Plan, the Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 33-62212) pertaining
to the Universal Shelf, the Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 33-52415)
pertaining to the registration of 1,000,000 shares of common stock for the
Company's Stockholder Investment Program, the Registration Statement (Form S-8
No. 33-53555) pertaining to the 1994 Flexible Long Term Incentive Plan, the
Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 33-57164) pertaining to the Series B
Preferred Stock Dividend Reinvestment Plan, and in the related prospectuses of
our report dated January 29, 1996, with respect to the consolidated financial
statements incorporated herein by reference, and our report included in the
preceding paragraph with respect to the financial statement schedules included
in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) of Capstead Mortgage Corporation.



                                                         ERNST & YOUNG LLP



Dallas, Texas
March 22, 1996