Ginmonkey

I mean minimising the number of car journies you make is just sensible wherever you live in London. It's not a unique feature of SE London.

I think Forest Hill or Honor Oak maybe a better bet if your mum is in Honor Oak. We moved from Peckham to Forest Hill a few years ago (priced out) and do not regret it at all. Housing is cheaper and often bigger, there are lots of green spaces and I understand the state schools are very good. You will definitely get more for your money if you are happy to consider newer properties (eg 1930s onwards) rather than the ubiquitous Dulwich Victorian terraces.) Forest Hill has a lot of nice thirties semis and sixties town houses. Forest Hill is no where near as gentrified as Dulwich, the high street is fairly ordinary and scruffy and eating out/drinking options are scant (although I rather love our massive Wetherspoons) but it is a great community and still very mixed. Transport is decent - there are direct trains to London Bridge and Victoria and the Overground connects you with the Jubilee, District and Elizabeth lines as well as the DLR. As people have said if you move to SE London you need to reframe your transport expectations - but you will get more green space and housing. £4000 + a month is a very decent budget for Forest Hill/Honor Oak. Of course for more facilities you are in walking distance/short bus ride form Lordship Lane/Peckham/Crystal Palace etc.. One big downside is the south circular runs straight through Forest Hill which does have a negative impact on the high street and can be off putting when you first visit, try to ignore that (and don't buy a house on London road!) Good luck.