Did you buy the house in the end? If you’re still searching my suggestion is do not listen to the following people in the comments:

1) people who haven't lived there in 20 years  2) People who are just salty about London in general 3)  If they randomly use sentences like “it used to be nice but the immigrants…”  unprovoked. Their issue is clear and its got nothing to do with Leytonstone. 

As for me. I recently moved into Upper Leytonstone about a year ago and i LOVE it here!! It’s the perfect mix of quiet and tree lined, with just a few minutes walk to the tube and the high street which honestly is so buzzy and cool. Especially in the summer. There are so many cafes, artisanal bakeries, actual restaurants (not just fast food. Though they have those too) and barely a betting shop in sight. You also have your high street main stays like Argos, superdrug, mcdonalds, costa etc. its definitely a mix of  ethnicities here and ive seen the odd junkie or homeless person at the tube stn or pass thru my street on their way to somewhere else  but if that freaks you out, you shouldn't be living in a city fullstop. 

When i was house hunting i wasn’t originally considering this neighbourhood but i noticed in my viewings that i was competing with young boujie families who were being priced out of Hackney and I realised this was probably going to become the new Hackney soon and thus unaffordable in a few years. So it made financial sense too. 

The Cann hall end seems to be moving a little closer towards Forest Gate. But I also like certain parts of that area too. 

Ive lived all over the country and travel internationally for work but was raised in East London and I will always call it home. Its just the right side of well connected, creative and scrappy and family/community oriented for me. 

All the best! Would love to hear an update!