My lease runs out in October. We originally agreed, verbally, that we would go month to month after lease ended but now my land lady says I have to sign another lease or I have to move. There are no other houses for rent in my town right now but I really don't want to sign on for another year so I'm not stuck if a house becomes available. Can she make me sign another lease or move? What can she do to me if I tell her my family needs to stay until another house becomes available but we're not going to sign a lease?

I work at a real estate broker/ landlord's office. They can legally evict you if you refuse to sign another lease after your contract is up.

When a lease expires, both parties have to agree to renew, either for a specified term or on a month to month basis. If the tenant doesn't agree they move out. If the landlord doesn't agree, the tenant has to move. If the tenant refuses to vacate when the lease expires, the landlord can legally evict. They would have to go through a formal eviction process, but they will be granted an eviction so at some point you would be put out on the street.

See if the landlord will accept a shorter term lease, like 6 months. Or see if they will accept a buyout clause where you can pay a sum (usually 2 months rent) to terminate the lease early. Or make sure there is a sublet clause so you can sublet the house.

Remember the landlord survives on making sure the property constantly generates income. If you move out with short notice (even one month can be short notice), the landlord might lose income for that month. So if you protect the landlord against that, they may be amenable.