Closing from overseas?

[Ben Hubbard]

How do you handle the closing process from outside the US?

We're American expats who own one property and are looking to acquire more, but are running into problems with financing and the closing process because we are located outside the US and don't want to return to the States just to complete paperwork. 

We're using conventional financing, and don't want to involve family in the US or take on a business partner just to do the paperwork.  Is this the kind of thing we could have a lawyer do for us - or are there other approaches people here have used (or would recommend we avoid)?