Lionel Richie to Buy Nicole a House

 Image by Splash News

Lionel Richie thought of the perfect gift for his 'little girl'... a mansion!

Daddy dearest is going to cough up close to $7 million dollars for a villa in Century City for Nicole and her baby daddy Joel Madden.

A source says, "She recently leased out her West Hollywood condo, and, while she likes living at Joel's bachelor pad in Glendale, she doesn't want to raise her baby in the Valley.

"Nicole wants to live close to both of her parents while she gets ready to have the baby. Lionel wants Nicole to be safe, and he thinks a gated community is best."

Must be nice to have a rich daddy, I wish he would adopt me too.