Courtney Love planning to make New York permanent home

Courtney Love has expressed her desire to permanently settle down in West Village.

At Russell Simmons” Argyleculture fashion line launch at Ampersand Studios on W. 36th St., she said that she”s looking to lease – and eventually buy – an apartment in the pricey precinct.

The Hole front woman has been living at SoHo”s Mercer Hotel for the last year.

“I want to live in the West Village. Only the West Village,” the New York Daily News quoted her as saying.

Love says that her fragile financial situation means she”ll have to lease before she buys.

Over the last year or so, Love has been battling back from a number of financial setbacks.

For instance, the rock grrrl, who claims she”s the victim of identity theft, was sued by American Express for more than 350,000 dollars she allegedly owed the charge-card company.

Love says she has “four more months until my credit is repaired.”

As a result, she says, “I don”t have a credit card. I use a debit card.” But, she adds, her “CPA, who I share with Oliver Stone,” is “fixing” her predicament.

Then again, she admits, “I”ve spent so much money on the hotel,” which is owned by her beau-for-a-bit Andre Balazs, “I could have bought a house.”